City of Brampton’s Regional Councillor for Wards 1 & 5, Rowena Santos, has been reappointed as Chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation for the 2024-2025 term. The reappointment to serve a second term in this role, made by FCM President, Geoff Stewart, underscores the renewed trust in Councillor Santos’ leadership and her unwavering commitment to municipal governance.
“Being reappointed as Chair of this committee is both an honour and a significant responsibility I deeply value. The renewed trust from my colleagues at FCM strengthens my commitment to advocating for the needs of our communities, including Brampton. I am dedicated to driving meaningful change that will contribute to a more prosperous, livable, and sustainable future for all Canadians. Through my work, I hope to inspire the next generation of women-identifying individuals in politics, encouraging them to break barriers and forge their own paths.” – Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton; Member, FCM Board of Directors
FCM is a national advocacy organization for municipal governments representing more than 2,100 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations. FCM ensures the needs of municipalities are reflected in federal policies and programs. Municipal leaders from across Canada assemble each year to set FCM policies on key issues.
The Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation, under Councillor Santos’ leadership, will continue to focus on enhancing board capacity in areas such as infrastructure, public transit, transportation, rail safety, telecommunications, municipal finance and more. Santos will push the important work to develop a new municipal growth framework and advocate for municipal funding models to be more diverse, predictable and equitable so that cities and towns can be better positioned to give Canadians the quality of life they expect and deserve. This aligns closely with the City of Brampton’s federal advocacy priorities and offers an opportunity to further strengthen the City’s influence at the national level.
Councillor Santos has actively contributed to several FCM Standing Committees during her tenure, including four years as a member of the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation. She also served on the Standing Committee on Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government. Currently, in addition to serving as Chair of the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation, after completing two terms as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Anti-Racism and Equity, Councillor Santos was promoted and is proudly leading the Standing Committee as Chair.
Councillor Santos continues to be inspired by the community in Brampton and remains devoted to building a better tomorrow for all. Her reappointment as Chair reflects her passion and effectiveness as a strong and influential leader on the national stage.
