Honourable senators, I rise today to express my sincere support for an initiative that, in my opinion, fills a void in our system of institutional and democratic recognition: the creation of a “Cities and Municipalities Day,” as proposed in Senator Forest’s Bill S-237.

It’s time for us to recognize the fundamental role that municipalities play in the lives of Canadians. I would stress that this is not just a symbolic gesture, not just another civic holiday. It is a meaningful recognition of the values, skills and commitment that municipal governments contribute to the social and economic fabric of our country.

More often than not, when people talk about governance, they immediately think of the federal or provincial government. However, the first level of government that citizens turn to, the one closest to them, is the municipality.

When a park needs renovating, people go to city hall.

As I crossed the road to get here earlier today, I thought to myself that, if we want to have an impact as a government, we need to look at the municipal level. The sidewalk I was walking on is under municipal jurisdiction. The street I was crossing is under municipal jurisdiction. The traffic lights, public safety, that’s all under municipal jurisdiction. The pipes that run under the road are under municipal jurisdiction. The bus that passed in front of me is under municipal jurisdiction.

Back when I was a mayor, I sometimes had fun at certain people’s expense when they came to question period and complained that the $250 waste collection tax was ridiculously high. I found it amusing to suggest we make a deal: They would not have to pay the $250 waste collection tax, it would be taken off their tax bill, but they would have to dispose of their waste themselves — legally, at an approved site and at their own expense. They thought I was joking. I told them to try it and then let me know if it cost more than $250. That put a swift end to the debate, of course.

The mayor gets calls when neighbourhood safety becomes a concern. The councillors meet every week to listen to the residents’ concerns, big and small. This is what I call the “government of everyday life.”

This government often operates with limited resources, under heavy pressure, but always with an unshakeable desire to serve.

I’d like to take this opportunity to salute the men and women who have been elected to municipal councils, who devote long hours, including evenings and weekends — often to the detriment of their personal lives — to moving their communities forward. Their role is too often misunderstood or underestimated, yet they embody what is most noble in politics: local, direct, selfless commitment to the common good. They are the ones who manage municipal infrastructure and services such as waterworks, sewers, local roads, day camps, urban planning, police services, fire services, civil security, affordable housing, homelessness, budget management, environmental management, the many impacts of climate change, garbage, recycling and compost collection, parks, sports facilities, public transportation, animal control, and more. As you can see, colleagues, the list is long. If you want to have an impact on people’s lives, it’s at the municipal level that the work gets done.

A “Cities and Municipalities Day” would be a simple but powerful way of saying thank you to them for their dedication.

I would also like to remind you that municipalities are often on the front lines when major crises occur, as we recently saw. When floodwaters rise, municipalities are there to coordinate evacuations. When wildfires break out, municipalities are there to set up shelters. During the pandemic, cities, towns and villages adapted their services, sometimes overnight, to keep Canadians safe. They are the first to respond but often the last to be consulted. Yet their leadership, their resilience and, most of all, their innovation command respect. They do not have the luxury of time; they need to act quickly and decisively.

Allow me to respectfully remind you that according to our Constitution, municipalities come under provincial jurisdiction. However, their role in Canadian life extends far beyond this legal formality.

Respect for our institutions requires a functional recognition of municipal governance. We need cooperation based on mutual recognition between the three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. A “Cities and Municipalities Day” would serve as a gesture of openness and send a clear message that the Parliament of Canada recognizes and respects the invaluable contributions that municipalities make to the country’s development.

Let’s think for a moment about the diversity of municipalities across Canada. We have big cities like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. We also have dynamic medium-sized cities like Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Kelowna, Moncton and of course Saint-Eustache, the city where I had the honour of serving as mayor. We have small rural municipalities, sometimes with just a few hundred people, and Indigenous communities with their own local forms of governance. All of these entities have different realities, but they have the same objective: to serve their citizens with efficiency, fairness, diligence and dignity.

We here in the Senate must listen to this diversity. We must honour it.

A “Cities and Municipalities Day” would also be an opportunity to raise public awareness, particularly among young people, about the importance of getting involved at the municipal level. The first step in democratic life is often voting in municipal elections, getting involved in a neighbourhood committee or an urban planning advisory committee, and asking the municipal council questions. We have everything to gain by promoting local democracy. By encouraging local involvement, we strengthen national democracy. By giving municipalities visibility, we give citizens a renewed desire to get involved.

Finally, honourable colleagues, I see this day as something that will bring people together, an opportunity to set aside partisan and geographic differences and celebrate what we share in common. Every Canadian, whether in Gaspé, Iqaluit, Winnipeg or Victoria, is a resident of a municipality. What unites us is our sense of belonging to a community, a city, a town or a village. That is why I believe that the Parliament of Canada needs to support this proposal.

Colleagues, supporting the creation of a “Cities and Municipalities Day” is not a meaningless gesture. It is a sign of recognition, respect and institutional maturity. For all the people in every corner of the country who are working to improve their communities, I say this: We see you, we respect you and we’re with you.

I urge you to support this initiative wholeheartedly, knowing without a doubt that by recognizing municipalities, we are strengthening Canada as a whole. Thank you.