Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM, (in French) Fédération canadienne des municipalités) is an advocacy group representing over 2000 Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is a main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal officials. It negotiates with the Government of Canada's departments and agencies on behalf of municipalities, and administers a number of funds.
Fédération canadienne des municipalités | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | FCM |
|---|---|
| Formation | March 18, 1937 |
| Merger of |
|
| Type | Local government organization |
| Legal status | Non-profit corporation |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario |
Region served | Canada |
Membership | 2,035 |
Official languages | English, French |
Key people |
|
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities |
History
In 1901, the Union of Canadian Municipalities was formed to represent the interests of municipal governments. Another association, the Dominion Conference of Mayors was established in 1935.[1] In 1937, these two associations were amalgamated into the Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities which in 1976 would be renamed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.[2]
FCM was instrumental in negotiating the federal government's 2005 "New Deal for Cities" programme,[3] under which Canadian federal gasoline taxes are remitted to municipalities.[4]
Successes
• Delivering $2 billion each year to municipalities from a permanent federal Gas Tax Fund. Over the next 20 years, this gas tax transfer will be worth $40 billion to cities and communities.
• Successfully advocating for significant federal funding towards the $123-billion municipal infrastructure deficit. In the 2009 budget, the federal government committed more than $12 billion over two years in new and accelerated infrastructure funding to municipal priorities.
Sustainable development
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF) provides below-market loans and grants, as well as education and training services to support municipal initiatives that improve air, water and soil quality, and protect the climate. This programme was established by the Chrétien government in 2001 with $100 million "to stimulate investment in innovative municipal infrastructure", and "to support municipal government action to cut pollution, reduce greenhouse gases and improve quality of life".[2]
Global engagement
• Since 1987, FCM's international department has helped more than 200 Canadian municipalities and associations engage in development cooperation in more than 40 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.
List of FCM Presidents
Notes
- Year elected or appointed.
- Appointed to replace Frederick J. Conboy in 1944 or 1945.
- Appointed to replace Percy E. George in 1951 or 1952.
- Appointed to replace Archibald J. Mason in 1952 or 1953. Went on to be elected to his own term in 1953.
- Appointed to replace Joseph-Omer Asselin in 1953 or 1954. Went on to be elected to his own term in 1954.
- Appointed to replace Percy B. Scurrah in 1961 or 1962.
- Appointed to replace Irvin William Akerley in 1963 or 1964.
- Appointed to replace Beth Woods in 1963 or 1964.
- Appointed to replace William Rathie in 1966 or 1967.
- Appointed to replace Michael Coleman in 2005 or 2006.
- Appointed to replace Gloria Kovach in 2006 or 2007. Went on to be elected to his own term in 2007.
References
- UBCM: The First Century: Union of British Columbia Municipalities. Granville Island. 2006. ISBN 1-894694-39-2. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- Stevenson, Don; Gilbert, Richard (2005-12-22). Coping with Canadian federalism: the case of the Federation of Canadian municipalities (PDF). Canadian Public Administration. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- G+M oped by Jack Diamond: "New deal for cities critical", 3 Dec 2003
- "Government on track to deliver New Deal for Cities and Communities". Infrastructure Canada. 2005-02-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-01-09. see also Department of Finance archives "A New Deal for Canada's Communities"
Bibliography
- Deutsch, John (1976). Tri-Level Task Force on Public Finance in Canada. Report of the Tri-Level Task Force on Public Finance. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada.
- "FCM Past Presidents". Federation of Canadian Municipalities. June 2, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
