Mayor Vrbanovic Joins Canada’s Big City Mayors in Ottawa Cities Critical Partners in Canada’s Prosperity

Ottawa, Ontario – Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic joined Canada’s Big City Mayors’ Caucus (BCMC) in Ottawa this week, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney and key federal ministers. During a series of group and individual meetings, he worked with his Federation of Canadian Municipalities BCMC colleagues to advance both Kitchener and shared priorities – priorities across Canada around housing, infrastructure, transportation, trade diversification, and more. 

Building on the momentum of these meetings, Mayor Vrbanovic emphasized the importance of predictable, long-term funding from all orders of government. 

“Canada’s big-city mayors are united in our priorities as we look to be partners in prosperity with Ottawa to build strong cities and a strong, resilient Canada,” said Mayor Vrbanovic. “Kitchener and other cities like us are ready to work hand in hand with both federal and provincial/territorial governments,” added Mayor Vrbanovic. “Canada’s economic future runs through our cities, and we share Ottawa’s ambition and sense of urgency to tackle these challenges together, but we need funding programs to be setup in a manner that allows us all to succeed.” 

BCMC mayors stressed the importance to federal officials of expediting federal funding programs, particularly as housing remains a top national priority. Sustained federal investment is essential for cities to keep pace with rapid population growth, rising infrastructure demands, and trade uncertainty.  

“We must work collaboratively, setting aside traditional mechanisms where necessary, to ensure budgeted dollars can flow quickly. By moving investments out the door faster, through FCM and other partners, cities can get projects underway, create jobs, and accelerate the construction of the infrastructure Canadians urgently need.” 

The BCMC continues to advocate for solutions that strengthen Canadian cities, including the urgent need for reliable, long-term infrastructure funding, renewing key housing and homelessness programs, and tackling emerging public safety issues in our cities. These measures are essential to ensuring cities can meet housing targets, support affordability, and maintain the services and quality of life priorities Canadians rely on every day.  

“As municipal leaders who are responding daily to the pressures of our growing communities, we’re committed to doing our part,” said Mayor Vrbanovic. “From our meeting with Prime Minister Carney to meetings with Ministers Francois-Philippe Champagne, Steven MacKinnon, Maninder Sidhu and others, I’m optimistic about the collaboration we are seeing as we work together with Canada’s new government, to strengthen housing, transit, and economic growth as part of Team Canada, across the country from coast to coast to coast.” 

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The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) unites more than 2,100 local governments at the national level, representing more than 92 per cent of Canadians in every province and territory. 

Federation of Canadian Municipalities media release. 

 
For more information, please contact:  

Shannon Weber  
Special Advisor to Mayor Vrbanovic 
City of Kitchener
Weber.Shannon@kitchener.ca