On Tuesday, February 6, the initial meeting of the Municipal Infrastructure Forum took place. AAMDC President Bob Barss is proud to be representing Canadian rural perspectives as a municipal member of this committee.

The Municipal Infrastructure Forum is an informal body bringing infrastructure experts together with municipal and business leaders to exchange ideas, build consensus, and provide input to the federal government. Over the next year, the forum's discussions will follow the three phases of the government's long-term planning process: 1) taking stock of recent infrastructure investments 2) measuring infrastructure needs and 3) developing principles and priorities for future investments. Organizations represented in the committee other than the FCM include; the Canadian Construction Association, The Canadian Public Works Association, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Engineers Canada, the Canadian Urban Transit Association, the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The forum brings together a national group of municipal, business and industry leaders in order to support the Government of Canada’s development of a new long-term infrastructure plan (details on the plan can be found here).  This long-term infrastructure plan was announced during the 2011 budget release, promising to develop a plan over the next two years in partnership with municipalities, provinces, territories and other key stakeholders.

Coinciding with the Municipal Infrastructure Forum, government consultation will take place directly with municipalities through the FCM board table. Through the standing committees of the FCM, consultations will be taking place. Should you have input that should be brought forward to the board, please contact your Alberta representatives on the FCM board.

AAMDC President Bob Barss sits on the Board of Directors, alongside the Prairie and Territorial Regional Committee rural representative Lorne Olsvik from Lac Ste. Anne County. Linda Sloan, the President of the AUMA, also sits on the board, along with Alberta’s urban representatives Len Bracko from St. Albert and Chip Oliver from Banff.

District 4 also chooses to send its own representative—currently Carolyn Kolebaba—to attend FCM meetings.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Attachments:

02 08 12 FCM Launches Municipal Infrastructure Forum.pdf