Moved second reading of Bill S-237, An Act respecting a Cities and Municipalities Day.

He said: Honourable senators, I am pleased to rise today to launch the debate on Bill S-237 to designate October 31 as “Cities and Municipalities Day” in Canada.

October 31 was chosen because, in 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the last day of October as World Cities Day to promote sustainable urban development policies.

We decided to hitch our wagon to this day to highlight the role of municipal organizations.

Let’s first talk about what municipalities represent for our country.

They are the places where democracy takes root. They are the local governments par excellence. They are the institutions that, day after day, shape the quality of life of our fellow citizens.

When Canadians leave home in the morning, the first thing they see is not Ottawa, the Parliament of Canada or the provincial or territorial legislature. What they see are the streets they’ll drive down, the sidewalks cleared of snow, the water that flows from their taps, the bus that takes them to work, the arena where their kids skate and the park where families gather.

What they experience every day are municipal services. Municipalities, large and small, urban and rural, from north to south, are at the heart of Canadians’ collective well-being. They provide drinking water, waste management services, local road maintenance and public transit, and take care of local economic development and land-use planning.

They manage our libraries, community centres, playgrounds and urban forests.

They welcome newcomers, support seniors, assist families, tackle homelessness and do their part for the climate crisis. Consider the adage “think global, act local.” They are the front line of public services, the first door citizens knock on, and often the last hope they cling to.

Their responsibilities nowadays are substantial, diverse and growing. Globalization, technological transformation, climate change, rapid urbanization and demographic pressure are all phenomena that are felt at the local level first. That is where innovative solutions are often found.

When a flood devastates a region, municipalities sound the alarm and protect citizens. When a heat wave hits our cities, municipalities open cooling centres. When a housing crisis arises, they see first-hand the families who are in distress. When a newcomer settles in Canada, municipalities are the ones that welcome them to their new community.

As we can see, municipal governments are close to the people. They operate on the front lines of the major issues marking the 21st century. They play a vital role in the challenges that define our era, such as the housing crisis, climate change adaptation, social inclusion and sustainable economic prosperity. However, they operate with limited resources, often obtained through transfers and interminable negotiations. Worse still, municipalities are victims of an outdated tax system that prevents them from reaping the benefits of the economic growth they help create in their locality.

That’s why it is vital that this “Cities and Municipalities Day” raise Canadians’ awareness of this reality: We can’t build a future for this country without a solid partnership with municipalities, cities and the people responsible for the day-to-day administration of our communities.

First and foremost, “Cities and Municipalities Day” would provide an opportunity to celebrate this unique contribution. It would publicly honour this contribution and send a clear message that, in Canada, municipal action matters. It is recognized, valued and deserving of our gratitude.

Second, “Cities and Municipalities Day” would act as a tool to raise awareness. Too often, residents are unaware of the full scope of municipal responsibilities. They think municipalities just deal with garbage bins and potholes. But this perception is untrue and unwarranted.

This day will give municipalities a national platform where they can explain their role, showcase their successes and share their challenges. It will open the eyes of the general public to the fact that municipalities are key players in our shared future.

It will also serve to enhance dialogue between citizens and their local councillors, encourage citizen involvement in municipal affairs, and foster pride and a sense of belonging to their town, village or community.

We also hope that this day will motivate citizens to get involved in municipal politics once they understand the scope of the challenges facing their communities.

This day will also be a tribute to the hard work of municipal elected representatives and employees. It will highlight the work of municipal elected officials — many of whom do this job part-time, sometimes for meagre pay, but always with a strong sense of duty — and the dedication of mayors and councillors who, despite the constraints, find creative solutions, innovate, and mobilize their communities.

Being mayor of a small municipality means being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to deal with water system problems, neighbourhood disputes and emergency situations.

Being a municipal councillor means going out to meet residents at grocery stores, farmers’ markets and arenas and hearing first-hand what they’re concerned about, sometimes what they’re mad about, and often what they hope for.

Being the city manager of a municipality means juggling tight budgets, applying for grants and negotiating with the other levels of government, while staying focused on local priorities.

These women and men don’t do these jobs for glory, but they deserve our gratitude. A national day is a powerful symbolic gesture to collectively say thank you.

This day will also highlight the dedication of municipal employees, such as engineers, urban planners, firefighters, police officers, public works employees, librarians, educators and community workers. I’m talking about thousands of women and men who take meaningful action every day to make life easier, safer and better for their fellow citizens.

Finally, “Cities and Municipalities Day” will serve as an annual reminder of the importance of constructive dialogue between the three levels of government: federal, provincial, and municipal.

Municipalities are not mentioned in the Constitution of 1867.

They fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, but in reality, they are essential partners of the federal government.

Whether it’s infrastructure, affordable housing, public transit, public safety or the integration of newcomers, municipalities are always on the front line.

That’s why it’s our responsibility as federal parliamentarians to reach out, build bridges and support these local governments. October 31 will become an annual reminder of this need for collaboration. I dream of seeing our communities come together every October 31 to celebrate their local successes with open door events at city halls, talks in schools to explain the role of municipalities, events to recognize municipal volunteers and employees, public information campaigns about local services, and intergenerational dialogue on the future of our cities, towns and villages.

This day will be both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection — a celebration of what we have achieved together and a reflection on what remains to be built if we want more respectful and supportive communities. Let me stress that our ability to overcome the challenges of the 21st century will depend on what happens at the local level. The fight against climate change will depend on our urban planning, the transformation of our public transit systems, our waste management, and the resilience of our local infrastructure.

Our ability to integrate immigrants will depend on the vitality of our neighbourhoods, the quality of our housing, the strength of our communities and the efficiency of our reception services. Our economic prosperity will depend on the creativity of our local ecosystems, the development of regional know-how, support for our SMEs and the creation of appropriate infrastructure and diverse, competitive services to make our cities, towns and villages appealing to new families.

In other words, if we want Canada to remain a strong, inclusive and sustainable country, we have to equip our municipalities accordingly. Before we even begin to discuss resources, let’s start by granting them the recognition they deserve. I know that some people might claim that this is just a symbolic day, but as we all know, politics is all about symbols. Symbols have immense power. They have the power to transform attitudes, to guide priorities and to inspire action.

By recognizing October 31 as “Cities and Municipalities Day,” the Parliament of Canada would be sending a strong message, showing that it acknowledges the value of our municipalities as local governments, that it respects the actions of municipal elected officials, and that it wants to strengthen intergovernmental dialogue. This would be a small gesture for us, but it would carry a deeply meaningful message for municipalities.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that this bill transcends partisan divisions. It is not a left-wing or right-wing initiative, an urban or rural undertaking, or a provincial or federal issue. It is a tribute to the people on the ground who carry our democracy forward and improve the daily lives of millions of Canadians. I therefore urge my colleagues in all parliamentary groups to make this bill a unifying one. Let’s give Canada’s municipalities the recognition they deserve.

Let’s make sure that, every October 31, all citizens who walk through the doors of their town hall or encounter a municipal employee can say to themselves, “Today is our day. Today, together, we recognize the value of our cities and municipalities.”

It’s important to note that this day would not be a public holiday. It would be a day to recognize and reflect on the values that are expressed every day by the people who make a positive difference in our communities.

It is with pride and conviction that I present this bill and ask this chamber to support the establishment of “Cities and Municipalities Day” in Canada.

Thank you, meegwetch.