Feds’ advisers share recipe for growth: investment, immigration, infrastructure

The Trudeau government’s hand-picked team of economic advisers is recommending Ottawa deliver more than $200-billion worth of infrastructure projects over the next decade using as few taxpayer dollars as possible.

The suggestion was unveiled Thursday as part of the growth council’s first batch of recommendations on how Ottawa should resuscitate the lacklustre economy.

The council says the goal of building productivity-enhancing infrastructure can be accomplished with the creation of an independent bank designed to seek private capital by offering investors steady returns through user fees generated by projects such as toll highways, bridges and airports.

“It is imperative for Canada to deliver infrastructure that meets the country’s growing needs,” the council states.

“Canada should leverage the trillions in institutional capital waiting on the sidelines and focus this investment productively.”