Cities eager for Liberals’ infrastructure plan

With its commitment to infrastructure funding, housing and public transit, the Liberal Party has a promising platform for municipalities in Saskatchewan.

“I think municipalities will benefit from this, no question,” said Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, whose city is now painted with three political stripes after Monday’s federal election.

Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison is also looking forward to working with a new Liberal majority government, and hopes ReginaWascana MP Ralph Goodale returns to his post as minister of finance. Atchison said Saskatoon benefited from Goodale being in the position from 2003-6.

The nation’s tack to the left also brings with it the hope of better infrastructure funding for municipalities.

“There was a very strong commitment by (leader) Mr. (Justin) Trudeau, by the Liberals to support cities for growth, for infrastructure,” said Fougere. “In the future, we expect to see that delivered.”

The Liberal Party announced it would revamp the New Building Canada Fund and create a Canadian Infrastructure Bank to provide low-cost financing for projects.

At the end of every fiscal year, the Liberals said they will transfer unused federal infrastructure money to municipalities.

They also committed $5.6 billion over four years to “social infrastructure,” like affordable housing, seniors homes, child care centres, and recreation facilities, and the same amount to green infrastructure.

Fougere is pleased with the party’s “very clear, direct transfer of resources for infrastructure for all cities.”

He wants to ensure, though, that municipalities retain autonomy over what local projects most need funding.

Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association president and Weyburn Mayor Debra Button added that, “We really have not had a partner in the New Building Canada Fund federally, in Saskatchewan, with the amount of money that’s come for infrastructure,” calling this year’s $11.5-million offering “inadequate.”

“Obviously, that was not the tone that the Liberals were taking with the infrastructure dollars coming to municipalities across the country. So we’re interested to see how that will roll out,” she said.

Button is also pleased to see the Liberals’ commitment to bringing back the mandatory long-form census, the elimination of which affected communities’ ability to properly plan, she said.

The party has promised to help municipalities on the affordable housing and rental front, too. While Fougere said there isn’t much detail on this file, he was glad to see Trudeau speak to its importance.

“We certainly hope there’ll be some support, more so than there was from the last federal government,” he said.

The Liberal Party has promised $5.6 billion in new public transit infrastructure funding over four years as well.

When asked if they were concerned about representation in the House of Commons since Saskatchewan has only one Liberal MP, the three mayors had no reservations.

“I think if you wanted to take a win on anything, municipal issues were at the centre of this campaign and I think that that’s fantastic,” said Button.

“THERE WAS A VERY STRONG COMMITMENT BY (LEADER) MR. (JUSTIN) TRUDEAU, BY THE LIBERALS TO SUPPORT CITIES FOR GROWTH, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. IN THE FUTURE, WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT DELIVERED.”

MICHAEL FOUGERE