The following is a statement from FCM President, Sherbrooke Mayor
Jean Perrault on the announcement of a federal election on October 14.
OTTAWA, Sept. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - "Canadians are looking for leadership on bread and butter issues. They want this coming federal election campaign to be about the issues that truly affect them in their daily lives.
Whether the issue is crumbling infrastructure or clean air and water, safe streets or affordable housing, Canadians want practical answers from federal party leaders to the problems and challenges they experience first-hand in their communities and in their neighbourhoods.
Unfortunately, these are the kinds of problems that too often have been pushed onto the backs of local governments and property taxpayers to fix. This election should be different. It should be about federal leadership in the places Canadians live and work.
In a time of growing uncertainty, when more and more households are worried about the security of their families or their livelihood, Canadians are looking for proof that national leaders understand their concerns and are working to address them.
Canadians want good public transit so they can get to and from work without the heavy burden of high gas prices. They want investments in housing affordability so that they and their families can be assured of a roof over their heads and they want quality infrastructure for their communities so that their local economies remain competitive and their drinking water is safe.
When Canadians see their local police force straining to keep up under a growing enforcement burden, they want national leaders who are ready to partner with their community to support safe streets and neighbourhoods.
When Canadians see rural and northern communities struggling with shrinking tax and population bases and a shortage of new investment, they want a government with the vision to keep communities of every size and in every region vibrant.
The country needs leaders who are as serious as the everyday challenges we face. Leaders who are ready to tackle these issues, not talk about them, or worse still dismiss them as someone else's problem.
With vision, courage and a spirit of partnership the next government can take the lead in addressing Canada's bread and butter issues.
After a generation of cutbacks and offloading, all governments must come together to turn the tide on the municipal fiscal imbalance and secure our economic, social and environmental foundations.
Canadians are entitled to know which parties are committed to this partnership, because the health of our cities and communities and the future of our country depend on it."
For further information: Joanne MacDonald, (613) 907-6241, www.fcm.ca/en/election2008
© CNW Group
