Item - 2023.EX8.10

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council receive the following information from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Committee and Board of Directors meetings held from September 5 to 15, 2023:

a. the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy, which proposes an increase in funds for the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund; and

b. the Municipal Growth Framework; and 

acknowledge the significant impact of wildfires on local communities in the Northwest Territories.

This month's Federation of Canadian Municipalities meetings, originally planned to be held in person in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, were conducted virtually due to unprecedented wildfires. We would like to express our recognition of the devastating effects of these wildfires on local communities in the Northwest Territories. The fires resulted in displacement and the loss of essential resources, and we commend the tireless efforts of officials and community members in their endeavors to rebuild their communities.

Considering these circumstances, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has adopted a motion supporting the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy and is expanding investments in the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund to provide assistance to affected communities.

Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude to the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Scott Pearce, for his advocacy in fostering discussions among all levels of government regarding the need to link municipal revenue with population and economic growth through the Municipal Growth Framework.

Recognizing the limitations of the current municipal framework in accommodating resource expansion and infrastructure funding, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is committed to addressing key considerations related to infrastructure funding, municipal responsibilities, housing needs, emissions reduction technology, and community resilience. Additional information can be found in the resources provided by the FCM Board of Directors, who have issued a national call for a new Municipal Growth Framework.

FCM issued two statements following our meetings: a wrap-up news release on the work of our Board these past two weeks, including details on passed resolutions;  and one on our call for a new Municipal Growth Framework.

In my capacity as a representative of the City of Toronto, I have had the privilege of serving on both the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee and the Social-Economic Development Committee. Additionally, I attended the Committee of the Whole and the Board of Directors meetings.

This month's Federation of Canadian Municipalities meetings emphasized the importance of substantial investments and infrastructure changes at all levels of government to benefit local communities.