Vancouver City Council

POSTPONED BY COUNCIL

DECEMBER 11, 2003

REGULAR COUNCIL PORTION
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MOTION - DECEMBER 11, 2003

2. Federal Government Caucus Meeting - Invitation (File 1257)

At the Regular Council meeting held Tuesday, December 9, 2003, the following Motion was submitted. Councillor Green called Notice under Section 5.4 (c) of the Procedure By-law.

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

WHEREAS Vancouver is the third largest metropolitan region in Canada and the largest city west of Toronto;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver is the gateway to the Asia Pacific;

AND WHEREAS Canada's newest Prime Minister has indicated that he would like to give Western Canada a greater voice in Ottawa;

AND WHEREAS it is important for the federal cabinet and caucus to better understand the diversity and uniqueness of our west coast;

AND WHEREAS Canada's cities are looking to strike a new deal with the Federal Government to help develop the necessary infrastructure to make our economy prosper into the next century;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver has some of Canada's best facilities to host the Federal Government caucus;

AND WHEREAS Translink is preparing to undertake a new 10 year transportation plan that will require the partnership of the federal government;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver has an interest to build better relations with our provincial and federal governments;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor, on behalf of City Council write a letter of invitation to Canada's newest Prime Minister to request that the new cabinet and government caucus hold a caucus meeting in Vancouver prior to the next federal election.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

THAT all references to "government caucus" be deleted from the motion.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTION AS AMENDED

WHEREAS Vancouver is the third largest metropolitan region in Canada and the largest city west of Toronto;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver is the gateway to the Asia Pacific;

AND WHEREAS Canada's newest Prime Minister has indicated that he would like to give Western Canada a greater voice in Ottawa;

AND WHEREAS it is important for the federal cabinet to better understand the diversity and uniqueness of our west coast;

AND WHEREAS Canada's cities are looking to strike a new deal with the Federal Government to help develop the necessary infrastructure to make our economy prosper into the next century;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver has some of Canada's best facilities to host the Federal Government;

AND WHEREAS Translink is preparing to undertake a new 10 year transportation plan that will require the partnership of the federal government;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver has an interest to build better relations with our provincial and federal governments;

THAT the Mayor, on behalf of City Council write a letter of invitation to Canada's newest Prime Minister to request that the new cabinet hold a meeting in Vancouver prior to the next federal election.

postponed

MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT the decision on the motion to invite Canada's new Prime Minister and cabinet to hold a meeting in Vancouver prior to the next election be postponed until Mayor Campbell's return.

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis and Sullivan opposed)
(Councillors Roberts and Woodsworth not present for the vote)

Councillor Green requested staff report back on the motion recently passed unanimously by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Board to have Vancouver host a meeting of the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, appropriate provincial and territorial ministers, and other organizations that deal with housing, homelessness and other civic issues.