Halton Regional Council Calls on all Federal Parties to Support FCM's 2021 Federal Election Priorities
At our Halton Regional Council meeting on Sept. 15, we carried a resolution endorsing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) priorities in the upcoming 2021 federal election.The motion was moved by Ward 3 Burlington Councillor Rory Nisan and seconded by Wards 1 & 2 Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville.All of Halton's municipalities share the priorities that have been laid out by FCM and ask all candidates running in the federal election to support them.Please see the full resolution below:WHEREAS Canadians are looking for progress they can see and feel after everything we’ve been through during the COVID-19 pandemic;AND WHEREAS municipalities deliver frontline solutions that make life better for people, in ways that tackle big national challenges—from job-creation to climate change and the housing crisis;AND WHEREAS local governments are ready to partner with the next government to drive an inclusive and sustainable recovery rooted in our communities, where Canadians live, work, start businesses and raise families;NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:THAT Halton Region calls on all federal parties to support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ 2021 federal election priorities (available at https://ourfrontlinesolutions.ca) including:
- Empowering local leaders to create jobs, support local economies and build better lives by permanently doubling the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly the federal Gas Tax Fund) — upgrading roads and bridges to keep people moving, expanding cultural-recreation facilities to bring people together, and more.
- Tackling chronic homelessness and improving affordability across the housing spectrum, by growing proven programs like the Rapid Housing Initiative and protecting and expanding affordable housing and rental supply.
- Protecting Canadians from weather extremes and scaling up investments in local pathways to net-zero by investing in disaster mitigation and climate adaptation projects, strengthening natural infrastructure, and scaling up local climate solutions.
- Sustaining public transit systems through ongoing pandemic losses and ensuring predictable support for long-term green transit growth to cut commutes, lower emissions and provide affordable access to everything our communities have to offer.
- Ensuring cleaner water for Canadians nationwide by investing in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Championing rural and northern communities by investing in rural and northern infrastructure, establishing reliable inter-community passenger bus services, expanding rural housing and homelessness supports, and continuing to close the digital divide.
- Ensuring a bright economic future for every region of the country by working directly with western municipal leaders to create good jobs and more opportunities for western Canadians for years to come—building on recommendations put forward by FCM’s Western Economic Solutions Taskforce.
- Modernizing how governments work together by formalizing federal-municipal collaboration on key priorities like housing affordability, pathways to net-zero, digital inclusion, and mental health – through FCM;
AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Halton Area MP’s and all candidates for office, Halton MPP’s, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton and the Town of Oakville.RELATED LINK: