FPEIM Newsletter June 2016

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Federation of PEI Municipalities Newsletter
June 2016

Municipal Legislation Update

The Province introduced An Act to Amend the Municipalities Act and A n Act to Amend the Planning Act in the Second Session of the 65th General Assembly of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly and passed the First Reading stage before the Session ended. The amendments to the Planning Act are expected to move forward in the Fall session of the Legislative Assembly.

The proposed amendments to the Municipalities Act will not likely move forward when the Legislative Assembly sits in the fall. The Province is continuing to target the Fall Session for adoption of the new Municipal Government Act, and the amendments brought forward in the spring will be addressed in the new legislation.

The draft Municipal Government Act will include requirements related to good governance, financial accountability, administration and service delivery, while providing greater authority, flexibility and discretion. Municipal Affairs has prepared a fact sheet that outlines some of the changes.

Municipal Affairs is aiming to begin consultations with municipalities in late summer.

New Deputy Minister for Department of Communities, Land and Environment

On May 31, 2016 Premier Wade MacLauchlan named Michele Dorsey, Q.C. as the new Deputy Minister of the Department of Communities, Land and Environment. Ms. Dorsey was previously Deputy Minister of Justice and Public Service and assumed her new position on June 20. The Federation welcomes Ms. Dorsey and looks forward to working with her.

Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program

The federal government has released details regarding an additional $150 million for the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Fund, first announced in Budget 2016. The additional funding will support projects under two common themes: a clean-growth economy or a better future for indigenous peoples.

The program will provide up to 50 per cent of funding to provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments, Aboriginal organizations and non-profit organizations to renovate, expand or rehabilitate community and cultural infrastructure, including trails and bike paths. Projects must be completed by March 2018, although preference may be given to projects that can be completed by the end of the 2017 construction season.

More information on the intake and selection process for eligible projects in PEI is available through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Draft Energy Strategy Available Online

The second draft of the PEI Energy Strategy, as well as an overview of recommended action items from the strategy, can be found online. Comments on the strategy are being accepted until July 15.

Rob Phillpot Re-Elected President of AMA PEI

Rob Philpott, Chief Financial Officer, City of Summerside, was re-elected as President of the Association of Municipal Administrators, PEI at the Association's Annual Meeting held at the Milton Community Hall on June 29, 2016. Other Executive members elected are Vice-President Bob Ashley (Chief Administrative Officer, City of Summerside), Secretary Shari MacDonald (Chief Administrative Officer, Community of Miltonvale Park), Treasurer Tonya Perry (Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Georgetown) and Past President Geoff Baker (Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Kensington).

The day also included an number of presentations to the AMA, PEI membership. These included: an update on Provincial Land Use Planning Policies by Janice Harper, Municipal Planner with the Department of Communities Land and Environment; a report from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators by Robert Hughes, former CAMA President; a presentation on the Proposed New Municipalities Act by Samantha Murphy, Manager of Municipal Affairs and Planning; a discussion of the Consultations with Municipalities on a Revenue-Sharing Formula by Michelle Dorsey, the new Deputy Minister of Communities, Land and Environment and a report on the Georgetown Conference 2.0 by Paul MacNeill, Publisher of The Eastern Graphic.

FPEIM 2016 Semi-Annual Set For Summerside

FPEIM's Board of Directors have welcomed an offer from the City of Summerside to host the Federation's 2016 Semi-Annual Meeting. The event is scheduled for October 22, 2016 and will be held at Credit Union Place. Work has begun on developing an interesting program. Full details and agenda will be released by late summer

Apply for Green Municipal Fund Capital Projects Funding by August 1

The next deadline to apply for funding for energy, transportation, waste and water capital projects through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund is August 1, 2016. Contact one of FCM's GMF advisors before you submit your Initial Review Form for help and advice (1-877-997-9926 or contact an advisor by email).

Further information is available on FCM's website.

Law Foundation Funding Available

The Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island is now accepting funding applications for projects set to begin in 2017.

Paul Kiley, Chair of the Foundation, encourages interested organizations to visit the Law Foundation’s website to better understand the types of initiatives that might be funded. He adds, “We are always interested in new ideas and projects that fit within our mandate, and look forward to receiving submissions on a variety of topics.”

The deadline for all submissions is September 12th, 2016.

FPEIM Spends "A Day With Doug Griffiths"

The Federation of PEI Municipalities, in partnership with the Department of Communities, Land and Environment, presented a full day session on June 7, 2016 featuring Doug Griffiths, author of the thought provoking book "13 Ways to Kill Your Community". The event, held in the Georgian Room of the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel was attended by nearly fifty registered delegates. The morning session featured a presentation by Mr. Griffiths based on the concepts addressed in "13 Ways" while the afternoon was dedicated to an interactive workshop, facilitated by Mr. Griffiths, on the theme "Working Together for a Successful Tomorrow".

Visit Doug Griffiths' 13 Ways website to read his blog, which addresses many of the issues discussed at the workshop.

Supreme Court Decision on Telecommunications

On June 16, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified the constitutional powers of local government in regards to the siting of radio-communications and telecommunications infrastructure (i.e. antenna towers, cables, poles, etc.). Its decision in Rogers v. Ville de Châteauguay is a disappointment for the municipal sector says the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

In its decision, the Supreme Court has endorsed the principle that radio-communications and telecommunications, including the location of infrastructure, are matters of exclusive federal jurisdiction. The ruling is based on two older decisions of the Privy Council, from 1905 and 1932 respectively. The result is that the Court leaves very little constitutional room for direct municipal intervention outside existing federal processes.

Although the Federation of Canadian Municipalities intervened in this case with the view that the Court would recognize a constitutional role for municipal governments in determining the location of telecom infrastructure, in practical terms the decision does not diminish existing consultation and approval processes.

Read FCM's response to the Decision here.

Manning Centre Report Highlights Municipal Cost-Saving Ideas

In the lead up to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Meeting in Winnipeg in early June 2016, the Manning Centre released a report that outlines over 200 examples of how municipalities across Canada have taken action to deliver services in a more cost-effective manner. The examples in the report came from 20 municipalities across the country.

Read the report here.

Federation of PEI Municipalities Newsletter June 2016