1. Mission Statement The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal governments. Federation of Canadian Municipalities

2. 2 Presentation Agenda W What is the Federation of Canadian Municipalities? W What is FCM’s Rural Forum? Membership Mandate Policy and Activities W Which FCM projects are of interest to rural Canada? W Looking Ahead: the FCM-CRRF Alliance

3. 3 Federation of Canadian Municipalities MISSION: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.

4. 4 Federation of Canadian Municipalities W Over 1000 Canadian municipal governments (large and small) are members of FCM. Provincial/territorial municipal associations are also members of FCM. W FCM represents municipal concerns about economic, environmental and social issues to the federal government.

5. 5 FCM Rural Forum W The Rural Forum was established in December 2001. W Members of the Rural Forum come from communities with no more than 150 persons per square kilometre, and/or a population of less than 10,000, and located below the 55 th parallel.

6. 6 Rural Forum Mandate W To provide greater accessibility to FCM for rural Canadian municipalities. W To concentrate advocacy efforts for a strong Canada by ensuring that there is a strong Canadian rural sector. W To act as liaison between Rural Forum members and the FCM Board of Directors and membership.

7. 7 Rural Forum Policy and Activities W Rural-urban co-operation on issues of common concern is essential, and rural- urban exchange on issues that appear to be in conflict will serve to strengthen the country as a whole. W Support municipal infrastructure programs that allocate funds on the basis of need or capacity; W Campaign for broadband access for rural and remote communities;

8. 8 Policy and Activities (continued) W Agriculture and rural communities; W FCM-DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) Working Group; W Encouraging the use of the federal “Rural Lens”, especially in cases where there is discussion about centralization/ amalgamation of federal services; W Defining an agenda for sustainable rural communities.

9. 9 FCM efforts of interest to rural Canada W Municipal Green Funds W Joint Committee with the U.S. National League of Cities (international trade) W Partnerships in Practice: Case Studies in Municipal and First Nations’ Economic Development Co-operation W Environmental Management Systems for rural communities

10. 10 FCM efforts of interest to rural Canada (cont.) W Input to the Government of Canada’s Northern Strategy W Land Management Project (Municipal- Aboriginal Relations) W Sustainable Community Awards W MOU with the Railway Association of Canada - Railway-Community Proximity Issues

11. 11 Looking Ahead: the FCM-CRRF Alliance W FCM is a strong voice in Ottawa for rural/northern communities; W Our voice will become stronger when bolstered by the solid research and data that is produced by the CRRF team; W We will ensure that this Alliance brings about positive results for rural/northern Canada.

12. 12 FCM Contacts RURAL FORUM Larry McDermott Chair, FCM Rural Forum Mayor, Lanark County, ON E-mail: larry@plentycanada.com Jacqueline Hynes, Policy Analyst Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tel: 613-241-5221, ext. E-mail: jhynes@fcm.ca

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