News Release

Mayor Kelly to Ask Fellow Big City Mayors to Unite Against Guns, Gangs, and Violence

(Wednesday, June 3, 2009) - Mayor Peter Kelly will join the mayors of Canada’s 22 biggest cities in Whistler on Thursday where he will introduce a resolution on a national strategy to deal with guns, gangs and violence.

The Big City Mayors’ Caucus is an opportunity for leaders of the country’s largest municipalities to come together two to three times a year to discuss common issues and find ways to advance those causes with the federal government.

“The issues we face in HRM with gangs and gun-related crime are not unique to our municipality and we need a national strategy,” Mayor Kelly said. “It’s time for cities to tell Ottawa that we need decisive action to limit access to handguns, including stricter boarder controls, and harsher penalties for anyone who uses a gun to commit a violent crime."

In addition to Mayor Kelly’s resolution, the caucus will discuss climate change, public transit, affordable housing and homelessness, and the ongoing need to support investment in municipal infrastructure despite growing federal and provincial deficits.

The Big City Mayors meet one day prior to the opening of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference. Many of the topics discussed by the mayors will set the tone for the conference.

Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
(902) 222-9999 (cell)