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Preamble:
WHEREAS the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) hosted an advocacy and engagement session at the 2024 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference in Calgary; and
WHEREAS this was an opportunity for the rural municipalities of Alberta to come together to advocate to other municipalities across the country; and
WHEREAS the event was well attended by municipal officials and other orders of government from across Canada; and
WHEREAS having the event planned annually in a way that showcases the province of Alberta in a high-quality and well-thought-out manner will serve to increase awareness of the event and elevate its profile and influence over time; and
WHEREAS advocating for all rural Alberta municipalities should not fall to a single community or group of municipalities, and is identified as one of the core functions of the RMA; and
WHEREAS the RMA has increased access to FCM leadership through having an RMA member directly on the FCM Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS the RMA has increased its engagement team size and has staff with the proven skills to host and manage an effective conference and information suite;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta help facilitate and host an annual “Alberta Room” showcase event during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference each year to promote and highlight the province to municipalities and other orders of government from across Canada.
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that the annual “Alberta Room” event will feature visual presentations, networking opportunities, and other experiences showcasing Alberta’s innovations, diverse industries and peoples, culture, and unique attributes.
Member Background:
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) positions itself as the national voice of municipal governments in Canada, representing over 2,000 municipalities across the country. These 2,000 municipalities include over 90% of the Canadian population and include large cities, small towns, rural areas, and Indigenous communities. Since its inception in 1901, FCM has worked to enhance the capacity of municipalities to provide essential services, advocate for local government priorities, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
One of FCM’s primary goals is to secure federal funding and policy changes that benefit municipalities. FCM also aims to ensure that local governments have the financial resources and legislative powers necessary to meet the needs of their residents and to respond effectively to national challenges like climate change and economic development.
Additionally, FCM plays a key role in promoting collaboration between different levels of government in Canada. Through programs, research, and policy development, FCM aims to help municipalities develop innovative solutions to local challenges. By representing such a large portion of the population, FCM’s advocacy efforts help ensure that municipal issues are addressed at the national level.
Annually, FCM hosts a national conference where municipalities from across the nation meet with one another, advocate on important issues, and learn from one another. That conference is held in a different municipality every year.
The concept of an “Alberta Room” has been considered several times and was traditionally based on a specific advocacy point (i.e.: “I Love Alberta Oil and Gas”). In 2023, Sturgeon County began to develop the concept of an “Alberta Room” that would focus instead on a broad swath of rural issues and opportunities in Alberta. It was meant to serve as an engagement opportunity with municipalities across the country and provide education on the diversity of Alberta industries, communities, and people.
The 2023 session was well received and well attended with over 500 attendees from every province across the country. The 2024 iteration of the “Alberta Room” was developed by RMA; this session was also well received by attendees from the FCM conference.
The Alberta Room provides an excellent opportunity for RMA to continue to advocate for its rural members and provide a platform through which they can engage on important issues with other local government officials and orders of government across Canada.
RMA Background:
RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.
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