Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Mayor and Huron Warden Glen McNeil. (Picture from Huron County)Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Mayor and Huron Warden Glen McNeil. (Picture from Huron County)
Midwestern

Resolutions to social issues brought forward at Toronto conference

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is the federal advocating body for all of the municipalities in Canada, much like how the Association of Municipalities of Ontario is the advocating body for the municipalities of Ontario.

Huron County Warden, Glen McNeil, said it was no surprise that about 1,900 people from all over Canada were in Toronto for the recent FCM meeting. There were three resolutions of particular interest that were presented and adopted.

Those resolutions were the need for federal infrastructure support to the municipalities, the need for assistance from the federal government to deal with mental health and addiction, and the third issue, McNeil spoke to, but was brought forward by a city in Nova Scotia.

“That is the effect of homelessness and the need for our federal government to provide capital and on-going operating financing for homelessness and to how to address the situation," said McNeil.

The point that McNeil made was it was not just a Nova Scotia issue or a big city issue, but it's also an issue throughout rural Canada. He was very pleased to see that resolution supported by 97 per cent of those in attendance.

“Everything is so inter-related," he said. "Housing, homelessness, mental health and addiction, it is all inter-related and we need to collectively address each of these issues simultaneously.”

McNeil adds the FCM conference was definitely worth attending. It is the group that the federal government listens to just as the provincial government listens to AMO. He was there representing both Huron County and the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus.

Read More Local Stories