Infrastructure ranked among the top issues discussed at this year’s Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, according to Mayor John Ruttan.
Six Nanaimo city councillors went to the event at Niagara Falls, Ont., May 30-June 2, costing the city roughly $15,600.
The annual event brings civic leaders from across the country together to discuss issues and take part in workshops and policy forums. Ruttan said this year infrastructure and the federal government’s new Building Canada fund were among the main issues talked about by civic leaders.
“A lot of questions were related to a more equitable transfer of money recognizing that out of every tax dollar only eight cents goes to municipalities,” he said. “We are trying to find out what other financing opportunities there are in the way of grants and so on to help us, the cities, with our infrastructure.”
Councillors Jim Kipp, Bill McKay, George Anderson, Diana Johnstone and Ted Greves also attended.