The State of Canada's Cities and Communities 2012 - FCM

Chapter 3
Page 11
In the years ahead, FCM will be extending its reach to 15 countries in the Caribbean. The
Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED) represents a significant
milestone in the long-standing relationship between FCM, CIDA and our Caribbean counterparts.
CARILED is a six-year, $23.2-million project, and is FCM’s largest international
undertaking to date. Its goal is to stimulate sustainable local economic development in the
Caribbean Region, where small, open economies are still reeling from the effects of the
global financial crisis of 2008 and recent natural disasters.
FCM and its partners will work with local government associations in the Caribbean to
establish economic development services and strategies that meet the needs of the men,
women and youth in communities throughout the region.
At FCM, we believe that communities, working together across borders, can create a
powerful force that makes a difference in people’s lives. Throughout 2012, we will recognize
the significant contribution our members and partners have made to support local
governance, democratic practices, and the provision of essential services, as we celebrate
25 years of international municipal development cooperation.
The successes we have achieved, and the people
we have helped in countless communities around
the world over the past 25 years, speak clearly
to the fact that municipalities have a leading
role to play in Canada’s international
development efforts.
7.
SAVING THE PARTNERSHIP
“We can jumpstart a national climate-change
strategy—and create new green jobs—with
cost-effective projects in our own backyards.
We can make our economy more productive
by investing in public transit and reducing traffic
gridlock. We can make Canada greener and
more prosperous, but we have to continue
working together.”—Toronto Mayor David Miller,
Big City Mayors’ Caucus, January 2010
In addition to creating new infrastructure and
jobs, the federal-municipal partnership overcame
barriers that had prevented governments from
working together, and transformed a flawed
system that had blocked progress for decades.
The success of the EAP rested on the strength of
the federal-municipal partnership. As the crisis
eased, FCM argued for keeping the partnership,
because so many problems remained—including
traffic gridlock, aging infrastructure, rising police
costs, and a shortage of affordable housing.
Meeting in January 2010, FCM’s Big City
Mayors’ Caucus stressed the importance of
continued partnership to meet the challenges
of the 21 st century, and called upon the federal
government to “continue working with cities
to improve aging infrastructure and strengthen
Canada for the future.” The mayors called upon
all parties in the House of Commons to sustain
important, core federal funding for cities,
including the permanent Gas Tax Fund, the 100%
GST refund, and affordable housing programs.