Hundreds of delegates to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities stopped by the CUPE booth on the first day of this three day conference to discuss issues of significance to cities, towns and villages.
Paul Moist was at the booth handing out literature when he was not participating in workshops and meeting delegates from communities whose public services are provided by CUPE members.
A panel hosted by independent journalist, Dennis Trudeau focussed on the future of municipal power, in particular funding and responsibilities.
Ministers from Ontario and Manitoba joined Mayor David Miller on the panel to explore the issue.
Miller said that municipalities need to be at the table, along with other levels of government, if they are going to be able to make decisions about the public services that they are meant to provide.
A member of the audience, City of Sherbrook, Quebec Mayor, Jean Perreault expressed concern that municipalities do not receive enough money from all sources to allow public services to be adequately delivered.
CUPE is distributing materials at the FCM including the leaflets below.
CUPE is offering a pair of tickets to anywhere in North America (carbon offsets paid by CUPE) as a prize at the CUPE booth.
The FCM conference runs until June 1, 2008.
