The 2015 federal election might not be officially under way, but any doubt that it isn’t in full swing was squashed like a bug in a summer-kitchen, during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Edmonton.
Mayors, councillors and municipal workers from rural and urban communities across Canada were there to hear what federal politicians had to say.
With more than four months until the expected election Oct. 19, federal politicians and leaders used the annual municipalities conference as a dress rehearsal, trotting out broad platforms and campaign-style speeches.
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More than a dozen federal politicians showed up, including finance minister Joe Oliver, labour minister Kellie Leitch, western diversification minister Michelle Rempel, international trade minister Ed Fast, health minister Rona Ambrose, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.
Each party pledged to listen to the FCM.
The Conservatives boasted about their record levels of infrastructure funding and new commitment to public transit, while unleashing pointed swipes at the opposition parties. That didn’t appear to go over well with the crowd. Some 60 people walked out of the packed room as finance minister Oliver was speaking, although it wasn’t clear if their exits were triggered by boredom or frustration.
When Oliver finished, the applause was more like a polite golf clap. Several mayors promptly panned his speech, out in the hallway, saying funding levels don’t go far enough.
Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi told the CBC that it was the coolest reception he’d seen a federal minister ever receive at the FCM conference.
It was a different story for the Liberals. In a campaign-style speech, Trudeau told the 1,700 delegates that affordable housing, public transit and infrastructure would be priorities in the Liberal platform, but failed to provide specifics.
While Trudeau appeared to have the standing-room-only crowd eating from his hand, (he got a lengthy standing ovation) FCM board members weren’t as impressed.
President and Fredericton mayor Brad Woodside said broad commitments don’t go far enough.
“It doesn’t’t work anymore to come into a room and say ‘this is what we’re going to give you, this is what we’re going to give you’,” Woodside told reporters as he snapped his fingers.Â
“It’s got to be backed up.”
That request was heard loud and clear by the federal NDP, who put forward a plan with numbers the next day. The plan, said Mulcair, had been costed out.
Among the commitments, the NDP pledged to increase the number of rental units by 10,000 over the next decade. Mulcair said the NDP would boost public transit funding to $1.3 billion annually, creating a long-term fund from general revenues.
Mulcair also committed to higher gas tax transfers for infrastructure projects, a pledge that triggered thundering applause.
Going into the conference, Canada’s mayors had a shopping list of wishes for infrastructure funding, transit and affordable housing — areas they said are nearing crisis points.
“Ottawa has the majority of the money and at this point is playing the smallest role in building competitive cities,” Edmonton mayor Don Iveson told reporters.
“If (the hand)doesn’t feed you long enough, you have to say something.”
For rural municipalities, the shortage of broadband internet and Ottawa’s decision to amend federal water regulations, which triggered major expenses for communities, were particular sore points. So was the apparent exclusion of smaller communities from the proposed Public Transit Fund.
“The funding announced for transit only seems to be framed for big cities. Is there any consideration of extending that funding to the transit issues faced by rural communities?” asked one delegate from Silverton, B.C.
The answer: a hesitant read–be-tween–the –lines “no” from western diversification, as minister Rempel expressed dismay over heavy criticism of the fund after demands for transit money for “major cities.”
More than a few whose towns and villages are looking to diversify because of falling oil prices or shuttered industries sought help from federal politicians and bureaucrats, who appeared somewhat stumped by the requests.
Their advice in the end? Talk to the provinces first.
