FCM Conference Focuses on Infrastructure Sustainability

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the biggest municipal event for local governments in Canada. It happens every year and generates 2000 delegates from all canadian municipalities.

This year conference is held in Halifax and Lake Country is participating. The theme of this year is 'Strong Cities, Strong Communities. Strong Canada'. I find this theme very appropriate: the foundation of our nation is indeed in its communities. Like our bodies cannot be alive without some vital organs, so our country cannot exist without its communities.

Taking the hint from this theme, this year's conference focus is on making communities better places to live with an eye on a holistic, even global approach. I personally see three main topics developing while I participate to this event:

• Infrastructure demand and impact on our communities;
• Stimulation of growth, with an eye on international partnership approaches; and
• Make the Federal Government understand the need to support communities.

In the first day of the conference, I sat in the Canada's first national infrastructure report card session. Over the past year FCM has been working with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), the Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA), and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineers (CSCE) to develop a comprehensive, objective, and repeatable reference tool to evaluate the state and performance of three core municipal infrastructure categories: roads, potable water systems, and wastewater/storm water networks. This tool provides additional ways for municipalities to set targets and bolster the support available for local asset management. In Lake Country we are doing something very similar. In fact, we are on the leading edge of infrastructure management and inn the next few weeks, our water assets management plan will become public and will be built into our Corporate Business Plan.

In a subsequent session, we specifically discussed the challenge of rebuilding our water infrastructure. The big question came up: do we rely on internal processes or should we partner with the private sector in order to make the targets more attainable? I do not believe there is one answer or a wrong answer for that matter. Each community needs to figure that out for the benefit of its constituents.

The session on municipal international relations for economic development was very intriguing and an eye-opener. During the session, I heard many good points about establishing international partnership through memoranda of cooperartion with municipalities from other countries. I heard that size does not matter but shared goals, objectives and values plays a major role. Asian economic boom, in particular, offers opportunities that were unthinkable in the past.

Finally, the session on the use of social media in the municipal environment was a blast. Phillip Lecrec, from the City of Regina, explained how Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have changed and will change the way the City of Regina does business. With 15,000 fans, the City of Regina Facbook page is extremely popular and well used. Naheed Nenshi, the new Mayor of Calgary, explained how the rlationship with the community has changed by using social media. He was entertaining and very convincing. Just visit the City of Calgary and the City of Regine Web and Social Media sites to have an idea.

I found the first day of conference very interesting and stimulating. Now onto the second day.

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