With a federal election anticipated in 2019 the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is already putting their suggestions before the federal parties, and Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden was part of the effort recently.
Goulden was part of an FCM delegation in Ottawa Nov. 20-23 meeting with representatives across the political landscape.
“We’re getting ready for the 2019 budget,” she said, adding FCM is anticipating the budget could be released as early as February.
During the time in Ottawa the FCM delegates, 70 board and committee members, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh, along with 10 cabinet ministers, 15 Parliamentary secretaries, 88 Members of Parliament and 37 Senators.
“We were talking about the need to deliver programs for local governments and the Canadians we serve together,” said Goulden.
Goulden said she believes the effort was a worthwhile one, adding she believes the people FCM met with were listening to what the needs of municipalities are.
One of the biggest needs centred on is the need for rural Canada to have a greater ability to connect with others around the world in an expedient fashion.
“We’re looking for $400 million over 10-years to go to rural broadband,” said Goulden, adding locally there are businesses in surrounding areas which face challenges in doing their business because of internet service.
“It is one of the big ‘asks’ that concerns us.”
Marijuana was also a topic FCM talked about.
“Municipalities aren’t getting their share of the revenues for the work that we have to do,” said Goulden, adding local government is playing a lead role in enforcement of the new legislation.
There is also a need to address housing, said Goulden.
“There is a need for funding for different levels of housing,” she said.
Hand-on-hand with FCM lobbying for dollars in the next budget is readying for the next federal election.
Goulden has been part of an FCM committee for the last two years readying for the election call.
“We’re advocating for municipalities with all the federal parties in the upcoming election,” she said. “We want municipal issues to get into the party platforms and then hopefully to get into their budget process.
