BREAKING: Cochrane Council to Vote on Leaving ICLEI-FCM Climate Program — Local Control at Stake

June 21, 2025 — Special Release

This coming Monday, June 23, the Town of Cochrane may become the next Canadian municipality—following Thorold, ON—to vote on withdrawing from the ICLEI/FCM Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. This vote could mark the second major break from Canada’s flagship municipal net-zero framework—and signals growing momentum for local control, transparency, and fiscal accountability nationwide.

The PCP program—jointly run by ICLEI Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), with federal funding—is designed to align local policies with UN climate targets and net-zero mandates. But many in Cochrane are now asking: who gave consent for this alignment?

That question became urgent after a powerful citizen-led delegation and a Notice of Motion from Councillor Patrick Wilson, who is calling for full withdrawal, new transparency rules, and a recommitment to local governance.

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How Did We Get Here? A Delegation That Revealed the Truth

On February 18, 2025, Ron Voss from the Dog With A Bone Society made a formal presentation to Council. He revealed that Cochrane has been a registered member of the PCP program since 2004—yet none of the current councillors were aware of this status. Even more concerning, Cochrane is listed by the program as having reached "Milestone 3" (developing a climate plan), despite the town's inactivity and lack of resources dedicated to the program in recent years.

You can read Ron Voss’s original delegation post here:
🔗 Dog With A Bone: Delegation to Cochrane Council
📄 PDF of Ron Voss’s Presentation Report

This disconnect was ironically confirmed in a June 18 article by the National Observer, written by Rory White, which attacks KICLEI and Councillor Wilson. The article claims municipalities “are being influenced without prior warning to councillors”—a statement meant to criticize KICLEI but which, in Cochrane’s case, inadvertently confirms KICLEI’s point. These councillors didn’t even know what the PCP was, why Cochrane was listed as a member, or who ICLEI is—until local citizens and KICLEI brought it to their attention.

🔗 Read the article (no paywall)

This isn’t a conspiracy—it’s a governance gap, and it’s precisely why KICLEI was created: to ensure municipalities know what they’re part of, what it costs, and what the implications are.

PCP advocates often boast that 522 municipalities are participating. But Cochrane’s case—and others we’ve contacted—shows a troubling trend: many listed participants don’t even know they’re members. That should concern every elected official in Canada.

Ron’s delegation explained:

• PCP is a federally and internationally funded program operating through ICLEI and FCM.

• It aims to guide municipalities into climate-aligned policy targets, including net-zero.

• Cochrane’s involvement was never revisited, debated, or reaffirmed by current elected officials.

📹 Watch the Delegation Clip → Delegation Video Link Here

Council members responded with concern. Councillor Wilson, in particular, expressed that this was the first he had heard of the program and emphasized the importance of withdrawing from any commitments made without full democratic oversight.

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The Motion: Restore Local Control and Transparency

At the June 6 Council meeting, Councillor Wilson introduced a formal Notice of Motion to:

1. Cease participation in the PCP and similar externally driven initiatives unless explicitly mandated by council.

2. Create guidelines and reporting requirements for all third-party partnerships—especially those involving grant funding or international goals.

3. Reaffirm Cochrane’s commitment to local priorities, transparency, and municipal autonomy over multinational frameworks.

📄 View the Official Notice of Motion PDF

Wilson cited KICLEI Canada as a valuable citizen-led resource on the PCP’s structure and financial implications, noting that the program can function like a corporate-style marketing scheme, offering free entry but locking municipalities into long-term frameworks with little public input.

📹 Watch the Motion Clip →

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Why This Matters Before October's Election

This vote will not only decide Cochrane’s relationship with ICLEI and FCM—it will also make clear which councillors stand for democratic accountability and which support continued engagement with top-down, globalized mandates.

With municipal elections scheduled for October 2025, residents deserve to know where each councillor stands.

As Ron Voss noted: "It is good to finally bring this to a head. Not sure about the outcome, but the stand they take individually will be useful information for the upcoming municipal election."

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Watch the Vote: Monday, June 23

Council meetings are live-streamed online. The Regular Meeting on June 23 starts at 5:30 p.m. MT, beginning with a public hearing. The PCP motion is scheduled later in the agenda, so exact timing is uncertain—but it's wise to tune in early.

🔗 WATCH LIVE or REPLAY → Cochrane Council Meeting Video Tab

This is your chance to witness democracy in action—and help ensure municipal policy stays accountable to you, not international directives.

— Maggie Braun
Campaign Director, KICLEI Canada