The costliest aspects of governance are infrastructure and municipalities, with the least volume of tax dollars to work with, tend to be the hardest hit.

So recent rumbles out of Ottawa, that there needs to be more senior government help for municipalities, are welcome rumbles to the ears of locally elected officials.

Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area B director and Union of B.C. Municipalities president Heath Slee, reporting on the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) annual meetings held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, said the “most significant achievement was the launch of the Government of Canada’s new infrastructure planning process. The plan promises to stop the decline in our municipal infrastructure and build roads, bridges, water and transit systems we need to support our families, businesses and economic growth.

“In recent years, the federal government has worked in our communities to repair aging infrastructure, but 40% of federal-municipal funding is set to expire by 2014,” Slee said, adding, “The new, long-term plan promised by the government will protect essential investments and reduce the burden on local taxpayers in the years ahead.

“The federal government laid out a clear timetable to take stock of recent investments in cities and communities, identify where investments need to be made in the future, and replace soon-to-expire programs with a new generation of long-term infrastructure investments,” he said.

“In the last few years, federal and municipal governments have worked more closely than ever to fight the economic crises and rebuild Canada’s aging roads, bridges, and water systems,” said Berry Vrbanovic, president of the FCM.  “Together we can build a stronger, safer Canada.”

Slee joined more than a 100 municipal leaders in Ottawa, where they met with more than 100 Members of Parliament, including party leaders and cabinet ministers, “to build practical partnerships and protect core investments in the Kootenays and throughout communities in British Columbia, and across Canada,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to meet with local MP (Columbia-Kootenay) David Wilks, who was a very gracious host, and strong advocate for local government.  Dave’s past experience in local government as former Mayor of Sparwood and RDEK Board Chair, have given him a good understanding of the many issues that Local government struggles with on a day-to-day basis,” said Slee.

Municipal leaders also received a report about FCM’s meeting this past week with the Prime Minister.  FCM representatives talked with the Prime Minister about how federal and municipal governments have worked together to fight the recession and how they can continue working together to keep Canada’s economic foundations secure, Slee reported.

Municipal and Local government leaders also heard NDP opposition leader Nycole Turmel and Liberal leader Bob Rae discuss what their parties are doing to strengthen the economy, support communities, and protect property taxpayers from offloading by other governments.

Slee said he is particularly proud of the Baynes Lake Senior’s housing project which was recently completed in Area B, and is now ready for occupancy.

“This was an infrastructure project that saw federal, provincial, and Columbia Basin Trust dollars put into it, making it become a reality.  Small community projects which can over time be expanded on, help to bind our small rural communities together, and at the same time instill a sense of pride in making it happen,” he said.

There are still vacancies available at the Baynes Lake Housing site, and if anyone is interested, they can contact Sandy Helfrich at 529-7710 or Douglas Lyon at 429-3519 for information.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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