Media Advisory
Mayor Kelly to Chair Big City Mayors' Caucus Sessions
(Thursday, October 3/2002)-- This week's federal Speech from the Throne will highlight discussions this weekend at the semi-annual meeting of the Big City Mayors' Caucus in Halifax.
Mayor Peter Kelly will host and chair the two-day session, where mayors from the largest municipalities in the country will focus on issues facing major cities in Canada today. (Agenda Attached)
Mayor Kelly said the Big City Mayors will be supporting a call for establishment of a new protocol between the federal government and Canada's major cities, that would allow these municipalities to deal directly with Ottawa on issues, such as infrastructure project funding.
"More than 80 per cent of the population of Canada now resides in an urban centre. Municipal revenues just can't keep up with the growing needs and demands that the big cities are facing. These large population centres need more autonomy and greater legislative flexibility to properly address growing demands of the taxpayer, " he said.
Mayor Kelly said he expects the Big City Mayors' Caucus will also be looking to the federal government soon for clarity on its proposed new infrastructure program and urge the Chretien government to establish the ground rules for the program up front.
"Many municipalities have first-hand experience in trying to deal with ground rules-in-progress. If we are to effectively deal with the infrastructure needs of our large population centres, then we have to know from the start what will be available to us, " he said.
The first-day session on Friday, October 4th, will be held in the Boardroom of Aliant Telecom on the 7th Floor of the Maritime Centre, on Barrington Street. A room will be available nearby to accommodate the media.
Mayor Kelly and Calgary Alderman John Schmal will be available to the media from 09:45 to 10 a.m, outside the conference room. A photo-op will follow inside the conference room from 10:00-10:05 a.m.
The second-day session on Saturday, October 5th, will be held in the Council Chamber at Halifax City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street. A wrap-up news conference will be held in Halifax Hall, Main Floor, City Hall, at the conclusion of the meeting, likely about noon on Saturday, October 5th. .
Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
John O'Brien
HRM Corporate Communications
(902) 490-6531
FCM BIG CITY MAYORS' CAUCUS
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
AGENDA
DAY ONE: FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2002
Venue: 7th Floor, Aliant Boardroom, Maritime Centre
10:00 a.m. Meeting called to order
1. Welcome by Mayor Peter Kelly and FCM President John Schmal
2. Minutes of May 29th, 2002
3. Review of the Federal Throne Speech
4. Federal Infrastructure Funding (FCM)
5. Canada's Innovation Strategy (FCM)
6. Update on the Ten Point Plan· Toronto Board of Trade Campaign for the City of Toronto
(Dale Richmond, Chair Toronto Board of Trade)
· Montréal Summit and the " Contrat de Ville" (Conseillère Francine Senecal, Montréal)
· A Comparison of Municipal Acts: An Update
(Don Lidstone)
· Fiscal Sustainability
LUNCH
1:15-- Afternoon Session
8. Presentation by the Strategic Counsel 9. Establishing a New Relationship with the Federal andProvincial Governments - Progress Report on Toronto's Initiatives
10. Proposal from the Railway Association of Canada on
Strategic Infrastructure Funding and Grade Separations(Bill Rowat, President, RAC)
11. Waste Management Update (FCM)
Day #2, Saturday, Oc. 5, 2002
Halifax City Hall
Council Chambers
09:00 a.m. Meeting called to order (Council Chamber)
12. Immigration Issues (FCM)
13. Budget Campaign · Transportation
· Infrastructure
· Kyoto
· Innovation Strategy
· Social
- Housing and Homelessness
- Children
14. Urban - Aboriginal Issues (Mayor Maddin, Saskatoon) 15. FCM BCMC Representative on FCM Board of Directors and Executive
16. Other Business
Noon - Wrap-Up News Conference, Halifax Hall, Main Floor, City Hall
-30--
