State of cities and communities
Posted May 29, 2012 08:35:27 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has released its first report on the state of cities and communities.
The report says municipal funding from the federal government has come along way, but that the road ahead is mostly uphill.
The federation wants a fairer tax deal with the Federal government.
FCM President Berry Vrbanovic tells 570 News there are two priorities going forward; the first being to focus on a new long term infrastructure plan between now and 2014.
“That (long-term infrastructure program) is something that was committed to in budget 2012, and we’re in the process of having those discussions with the federal government now, looking for commitments toward on-going, sustainable, and predictable funding, particularly in the area of infrastructure.”
The other? To change the fiscal arrangements between the three orders of government in order to better serve Canadians, “Just $0.05 of every new tax dollar actually goes to municipalities. The other $0.95 goes to the federal, provincial, and territorial coffers.
Vrbanovic says, if we want to keep creating jobs in this country, we need to see continued investment from the feds into municipalities.
