The Federation of Canadian Municipalities ( FCM , (in French) Fédération canadienne des municipalités ) is an advocacy group representing over 2000 Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is a main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal officials. It negotiates with the Government of Canada 's departments and agencies on behalf of municipalities, and provides fund administration services for the Government of Canada's departments and agencies.
7-661: In 1901, the Union of Canadian Municipalities was formed to represent the interests of municipal governments. Another association, the Dominion Conference of Mayors was established in 1935. In 1937, these two associations were amalgamated into the Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities which in 1976 would be renamed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. FCM was instrumental in negotiating
14-952: A major impact on soil quality. Soil quality relates to soil functions . Unlike water or air, for which established standards have been set, soil quality is difficult to define or quantify. Soil quality can be evaluated using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Soil quality in agricultural terms is measured on a scale of soil value ( Bodenwertzahl ) in Germany . Soil quality is primarily measured by chemical, physical, and biological indicators because soil function cannot easily be measured directly. Each of these categories comprises several indicators that provide insight into overall soil quality. There are very few soil quality monitoring systems that can provide near real-time information on these indicators but almost all of these systems are currently reported only to
21-533: The Caribbean since 1987. Soil quality Soil quality refers to the condition of soil based on its capacity to perform ecosystem services that meet the needs of human and non-human life. Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling , and providing support for plants and other structures. Soil management has
28-578: The Chrétien government in 2001 with $ 100 million "to stimulate investment in innovative municipal infrastructure", and "to support municipal government action to cut pollution, reduce greenhouse gases and improve quality of life". International development: • Flow-through for federal aid for development cooperation in more than 40 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and
35-489: The federal government committed more than $ 12 billion over two years in new and accelerated infrastructure funding to municipal priorities." Environment: • Flow-through for federal funds to support municipal initiatives that improve air, water and soil quality , and protect the climate through the Green Municipal Fund's below-market loans, grants, education and training. This programme was established by
42-404: The federal government's 2005 "New Deal for Cities" programme, under which Canadian federal gasoline taxes are remitted to municipalities. Infrastructure: • Flow-through for $ 2 billion of federal funds to municipalities from a Gas Tax Fund. • Worked to address municipal infrastructure deficit. Changes in federal policy are not attributable to any specific group or campaign. "In the 2009 budget,
49-687: The research level. The physical category of soil quality indicators consists of tests that measure soil texture, bulk density, porosity, water content at saturation, aggregate stability, penetration resistance, and more. These measures provide hydrological information, such the level of water infiltration and water availability to plants. Chemical indicators include pH and nutrient levels. A typical soil test only evaluates chemical soil properties. Biological measures include diversity of soil organisms and fungi. The movement and biological functions of soil organisms (including earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, ants, and spiders) impact soil processes such as
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