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Portage la Prairie City Councillor Joe Masi has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), continuing his role as Manitoba’s voice in national municipal discussions.
Now heading into his third term, Masi says the FCM board advocates for municipalities across the country, making sure local priorities are heard when it comes to federal policies and funding.
“Representing Manitoba, our role is to advocate on behalf of municipalities and ensure that the policies we need are implemented with the federal government," Masi explains.
Masi’s current term will run until June 2026. This year’s election marks the final cycle of one-year board terms, as the organization transitions to two-year terms to provide more consistency in leadership.
Support from home and across Manitoba
Masi says strong support from both his council and fellow Manitoba municipalities was essential to his re-election.
"I really would like to thank Mayor Knox and my council colleagues for their support. They endorsed the resolution to allow me to run, and then they were excellent and supportive through my campaign and at the convention," he adds. "Also, to the municipalities of Manitoba that voted for me, I appreciated that support. I was fortunate that I came in first, and it was a nice vote of confidence for the work I've been doing."
Tackling local needs
Throughout his campaign, Masi highlighted several pressing challenges facing municipalities, which he says are often overlooked in federal policymaking.
“One of the things I stressed was the importance of infrastructure. We're going to be building more affordable homes, but we need the infrastructure for that, whether it's water, roads, or recreation,” he says.
He also pointed to the need for more flexible federal programs that reflect the realities of rural and mid-sized communities, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach designed for large urban centres.
“We're not Toronto or Vancouver, and sometimes, at the federal level, these programs don't fit the smaller municipalities in Manitoba. I want to make sure when they're looking at programs, there's dedicated funding for our communities as well."
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Keeping public safety a priority
Another major pillar of his campaign is improving public safety, an issue Masi says is top of mind for residents and municipal leaders alike. He supports tougher bail reform legislation and believes municipalities should have a stronger voice in discussions around the rising cost of policing.
“As a city, we spend about 30 per cent of our budget on protective services, and the RCMP is a major part of that. They do a great job, but the costs are rising. Currently, we have very little input into the contract, but we pay the bill at the end of the process, so we want to be at the table for this contract discussion,” he explains.
A strong voice for Portage
With another term ahead, Masi says he is focused on collaboration with federal leaders to secure better support for local governments across the province.
“As municipalities, we need them as a partner. At the convention, I had the opportunity to meet with the Secretary of State for Rural Development, Mr. Belanger, and I raised a number of these issues with him. I’m looking forward to, hopefully, assisting in moving these issues forward in a good way for our municipalities and, of course, the city of Portage, because it’s close to my heart."
As he begins his new term, Masi remains committed to making sure Portage la Prairie and communities like it have meaningful input at the federal level.
“It’s important for Portage to have a voice at the table so we can help shape policy decisions, and I’m looking forward to serving another term."