By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

taking a pass

City of Lacombe cancelling Federation of Canadian Municipalities membership

Dec 13, 2019 | 4:01 PM

The City of Lacombe is cancelling its membership in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

FCM currently boasts membership from more than 90 per cent of Canadian communities, rural and urban, and acts as a liaison between municipalities and the federal government to lobby for municipal interests. These include the green municipal fund, the federal gas tax, and infrastructure funding.

According to a City of Lacombe report, FCM membership has increased $1000 since 2017 to just over $3100, largely in part to a rising per capita component.

Not being a member, however, does not preclude a municipality from sending representatives to FCM’s annual conference or taking advantage of what it offers. It does mean that conference registration is bumped up slightly, but that’s a pill city council says is easier to swallow.

“It’s safe to say this is a flaw in their pricing structure. I can’t imagine we’re unique amongst the 2000 communities across the nation that see this as odd pricing,” Mayor Grant Creasey said at this week’s council meeting.

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Councillor Thalia Hibbs said the City and council have been responsible when it comes to FCM.

“We only send a number of representatives out of council,” she said. “A lot of other councils send either the whole council or the majority, and that would make a big difference to the bottom line as well.”

Registration for members is $890, while non-members pay $1050 to attend the annual conference, which takes place in Toronto from June 4-7, 2020.

With the funds it collects, FCM also provides assistance through the Legal Defense Fund and the Special Advocacy Fund.