After 10 years of supporting the causes of municipalities of all sizes across the country, St. Albert Coun. Len Bracko has decided to make way for someone else on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Bracko stepped down from the FCM's board at the group's annual conference and trade show last weekend in Saskatoon.
"After 10 years it was a difficult decision but I decided to step down and allow younger people or others to run," Bracko said. "I just want to give others the opportunity to build the next 10 years. I'd love to stay on but the time comes."
In his time serving on the board, Bracko has been an outspoken supporter of municipalities, especially when it comes to the country's infrastructure debt. In that 10 years, Bracko oversaw the FCM report that reported that debt as $123 billion. He saw the federal government of the day in 2005 commit taxes on gasoline to municipalities across Canada and the Building Canada Fund, which expires in 2014.
The federal government has committed to replacing the Building Canada Fund before it expires.
Bracko has also served on numerous subcommittees that dealt with rural and northern issues.
"The north is going to be the next exciting part of our country," Bracko said. He has also been working with FCM to advocate for more broadband Internet access for rural communities.
"That is key to rural municipalities."
Bracko's work with the FCM has filtered down to the local level on St. Albert city council as he has become an ardent supporter of public transit, pushing for the LRT to come to and eventually through St. Albert, as well as investing in lifecycle maintenance for city infrastructure.
Coun. Wes Brodhead, who along with Bracko, Coun. Cathy Heron, Mayor Nolan Crouse and city manager Patrick Draper, attended the conference in Saskatoon, said it was easy to see not just how well known Bracko is within the FCM community, but also how much people respect him.
"Certainly Len Bracko is highly regarded there so it was gratifying to see him honoured as he was," Brodhead said.
Networking
Heron and Brodhead both said the conference was an ideal opportunity to network with fellow councillors from across the country and share ideas on best practices.
Heron went on tours and learned about ways to control urban sprawl, enhance beautification and work with youth. She said many municipalities also wanted to learn from some of St. Albert's examples, such as waste management and affordable housing.
"A lot of people want to hear what St. Albert's doing and they are taking that home," Heron said. "We're respected and seen as a leader. Everyone wants to talk about garbage collection and affordable housing so I shared a lot with other municipalities."
The Capital region also scored a major boon when Edmonton Coun. Karen Leibovici was acclaimed FCM president.
"When you're in leadership, you have an opportunity to certainly speak to the issues and given that you're intimately familiar with local issues in the community, those are the kinds of examples that get used in dialogue," Brodhead said. "Karen is a very sharp councillor and lady and she will do a wonderful job."
