Whereas #1 municipal governments are creations of provincial and territorial governments legislation which set their own respective parameters and limits to municipalities' authority to raise the money required to fund their increasing budget responsibilities; and
Whereas #2 the funding of municipal governments is for the most part limited to property taxes, which have not allowed them to keep pace with the real costs of maintaining and repairing eroding infrastructures, building more affordable housing, ensuring public safety and protecting their communities against climate disasters which have increased 3-fold in recent decades; and
Whereas #3 timely investments in these domains would compound the savings in coming years as municipalities face ever-increasing costs of labour and materials; and
Whereas #4 other entities such as insurance companies cannot keep up with the increasing costs of rebuilding needs from out-dated, crumbling infrastructure & climate disasters resulting in higher insurance premiums; and
Whereas #5 the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) urges the federal and provincial governments to coordinate their efforts to support municipalities, urban and rural, towards sustainable strategies which include increasing funding to meet real and potential threats to budgets and to support resilience of local communities; therefore be it
Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy; that municipal funding be sufficient to meet actual budgetary requirements; and be it further
Resolved #2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to collaborate with all levels of government and stakeholders to develop strategies to meet the increasing budgetary requirements of urban and rural municipal governments to address economic, social and environmental challenges; and be it further
Resolved #3 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge Provincial and Local Councils of Women and their federates, and communities to advocate for adequate resources to be made available to all municipalities.
