Liberals, Tories pitch infrastructure spending
Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau both promised to prioritize infrastructure and affordable housing in speeches to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference on Friday.
But municipal leaders were left wanting more details.
Oliver said his government would tackle the issue of “moving people in and out of cities efficiently” because of the economic losses and inconvenience created by clogged roadways.
Trudeau also stressed the importance of improving traffic issues in Canadian urban centres.
“The very livability of our cities is threatened,” Trudeau said.
Oliver pointed to his government’s plan to spend $1 billion per year on transport and transit by 2019 as a solution. Trudeau said the Conservatives’ commitment was a good first step, but that it wasn’t enough. He said details of how much money his party would commit to transportation and other infrastructure spending are still being determined.
Oliver also said his government has already accomplished much in the way of improving infrastructure and that the average age of infrastructure lowered during the federal Conservatives’ tenure.
Trudeau outlined a platform for municipal funding that included prioritizing affordable housing, transit and transportation, climate change and developing “smart cities.” He said the smart city plan includes collection of more comprehensive data to inform policy decisions. “If we form a government we will immediately restore the longform census,” Trudeau said.
After hearing Oliver and Trudeau’s speeches, Federation president Bradley Woodside said that he’s unsure proposals for spending on transportation and infrastructure are enough.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said the federal government has stepped up in response to the big city mayors’ request for transit funding, though he doesn’t think the $1 billion is enough. He said he hopes to see the focus on housing.
Iveson also said the federation hopes to hear more about each federal party’s plan for working with municipalities during the federation’s leader’s debate ahead of the coming election. The NDP and Green party will participate; Trudeau said his team is sitting down with the federation to “figure out how that might happen”; and the Conservatives have not committed to participate.
Green party Leader Elizabeth May also announced part of her party’s election platform Friday, including plans to create a “Council of Canadian Governments.”
May said there’s a need for a council on which the prime minister, all the premiers, municipal governments, First Nations, Métis and Inuit are members.