OTTAWA, Dec. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian municipal volunteers who have
contributed to Sri Lankan and Indonesian reconstruction efforts since the
devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami have demonstrated the best in Canadian
foreign cooperation, said Jean Perrault, President of the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Que.
"Mission accomplished!" said Perrault, noting that Canadian municipal
tsunami relief efforts are due to conclude in March 2009. "More than four
thousand days of work by Canadian municipal volunteers, elected and
non-elected, over a three-year span produced lasting results in Sri Lanka and
Indonesia."
Funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and
in-kind support from FCM members provided the foundations for the $11.4
million Canada/Sri Lanka Municipal Cooperation Program (MCP) and the $10
million Canada/Aceh Local Government Assistance Program (CALGAP).
The programs targeted five of the hardest-hit districts in Sri Lanka and
three in Aceh while responding directly to local needs identified by the local
authorities devastated by the tsunami.
"When communities lose basic services, access to markets and a productive
livelihood, as it happened in Sri Lanka and in Aceh, their municipal
governments are key when it comes to responding to natural disasters of this
magnitude. However, they are often overlooked," said Councillor Berry
Vrbanovic of Kitchener, Ont., and FCM's third vice-president.
More than 50 Canadian volunteers from across Canada worked alongside
their counterparts in Sri Lanka and Aceh to improve the quality and delivery
of municipal services such as: garbage collection; financial and strategic
planning; road construction, repair and maintenance; and library services.
Canadian municipalities also provided over CDN $280,000 in direct funding to
the reconstruction effort. As a result, libraries have books, markets have
stalls, maternity clinics have beds, children have playgrounds and basic
equipment like photocopiers and computers are now available in offices.
FCM, drawing heavily on the expertise of its membership, was also able to
help local governments organize, establish credibility and advocate on behalf
of their communities to other orders of government on a range of local needs.
"This peer-to-peer model of development ensures experts from both
countries work together on the most appropriate and sustainable solutions. Our
programs in Sri Lanka and Aceh have provided solid technical assistance and
support to tsunami-affected communities, showing that recovery efforts aimed
at local government can be effective, cost-efficient, sustainable and
responsive," said Coun. Vrbanovic.
Mayor Perrault said that the Canadian citizens participating in the
tsunami reconstruction programs should be proud.
"The combined efforts of FCM and CIDA on the tsunami reconstruction
efforts are a prime example of how two orders of government can work together
toward the betterment of other citizens in the world," he said.
More details can be found at www.fcm.ca/international.
The list of participating cities follows.
About FCM
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national
voice of municipal government since 1901.
With more than 1,775 members, FCM represents the interests of
municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal
jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural
communities, and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations.
Its International Centre for Municipal Development (ICMD) represents FCM
internationally and works to help local governments around the world develop
their capacity to deliver basic services, promote economic growth and
encourage the participation of their citizens.MUNICIPALITIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS BY TYPE OF
CONTRIBUTION
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MADE HOSTED A PROVIDED
MUNICIPALITY FINANCIAL VISIT OR MADE TECHNICAL
(42 IN TOTAL) DONATION PRESENTATION ASSISTANCE
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City of Calgary, AB X X X
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Vancouver, BC X X
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Surrey, BC X X
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City of Toronto, ON X X
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City of Kitchener, ON X X
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Saguenay, QC X X
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Shigawake, QC X X
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Halifax Regional
Municipality, NS X X
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City of Mount Pearl, NL X X
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Ladysmith, BC X
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Langley, BC X
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City of Nanaimo, BC X
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Port Moody, BC X
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City of Port Alberni, BC X
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City of Nelson, BC X
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District of North Cowichan,
BC X
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Township of Langley, BC X
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New Westminster, BC X
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Burnaby, BC X
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Langford, BC X
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Coquitlam, BC X
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Abbotsford, BC X
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Richmond, BC X
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City of Cochrane, AB X
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City of Regina, SK X
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Region of Durham, ON X
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City of Owen Sound, ON X
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Dufferin County, ON X
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Essex-Windsor Solid Waste
Authority X
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Regional Municipality of
Niagara, ON X
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Ottawa, ON X
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Region of Waterloo, ON X
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Montreal, QC X
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île Perrault, QC X
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MRC-des-Collines, QC X
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Town of St. Stephen, NB X
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Village of New Maryland,
NB X
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Village of Grand Manan, NB X
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City of Fredericton, NB X
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City of Wolfville, NS X
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District of Barrington, NS X
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Town of Lunenberg, NS X
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For further information: Renée Giroux, Regional Manager for Asia, FCM,
(613) 907-6254, rgiroux@fcm.ca
