Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate my municipal colleagues from coast to coast to coast on a very successful conference in Banff last weekend.
It was the 64th annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities which has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. The FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities and promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.
Representing Canada's largest cities through to the smallest rural and remote communities, our elected municipal leaders work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents to ensure their quality of life.
The government has an impressive relationship in listening and working with municipal governments across the country: the adoption of a national infrastructure program; the establishment of $125 million green enabling fund; the 20% club; the reduction of CO2 emissions over 10 years; the payments in lieu of taxes legislation; urban crime; community safety programs, and I could go on.
I would like to thank Joanne Monaghan for her tireless work as president—