Statement by FCM president on the green economy panel opening FCM’s sustainable communities conference (07/02/2012)

The following statement was released today by FCM President Berry Vrbanovic following the Green Economy panel that kicked off FCM's annual Sustainable Communities Conference in Ottawa:     

"Today's panel showed that in the 21^st century sustainability is as much about the economy as it is about the environment. The world is looking for the talent and technology to serve growing markets without exhausting our energy resources or polluting our air, land, and water.

As energy prices rise and the costs of climate change grow, all countries will be in the market for solutions. Along with the rest of the world, Canada will be a buyer in the global green economy. The question is whether Canada will also be a producer, reaping the benefits of new investments and jobs.

Municipalities build and operate most of Canada's environmental infrastructure, from water treatment plants to public transit to recycling and waste disposal services. In areas such as land-use planning, transportation, and building standards, municipalities have direct or indirect influence over 44% of Canada's GHG emissions.

FCM calls on the federal government to continue working with municipalities to meet national environmental and economic goals, while helping Canada move toward a green economy. Together we can ensure that long-term, predictable infrastructure funding is available for water and wastewater upgrades and sustainable transportation priorities, and that Canada's houses, apartments, and public buildings are more energy efficient.

Better collaboration among all orders of government to harness innovation and coordinate cost-effective policies is key to helping local governments do even more - creating jobs, driving economic growth, and positioning Canada for success in the global economy.

Finally, I want to thank Dave Thompson, from Sustainable Prosperity; David McLaughlin, president of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy; Juan Gomez, from the Toronto Board of Trade; Julian Boyle, Halifax Regional Municipality Manager of Strategic Energy Policy and Environmental Initiatives; and Lucy van Oldenbarneveld, from CBC News Ottawa, for today's lively and informative discussion panel on how to transition Canada to a greener economy."