Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Cities Ask For Gas-Tax Fund Boost In 100-day Wish List For Trudeau Government

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2019 09:05 PM

    OTTAWA - Canada's cities say the federal Liberals are willing to find creative ways to remove political roadblocks from provinces to fund billions in municipal projects, a sign of hope that comes as they ask Ottawa for more money and new ways to fund local work.

     

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his deputy Chrystia Freeland and other newly named cabinet ministers have given "very clear signals" about easing the flow of funds as part of their conversations with city leaders, said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson.

     

    Iveson's comments came near the end of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' conference in Ottawa this week, which will include a meeting with Trudeau this afternoon.

     

    The federal government has a number of options to make the money move, Iveson said, pointing to the doubling of the gas-tax funding this year, which the Liberals called a one-time arrangement to do an end-around on problematic provinces.

     

    It will be up to the Trudeau Liberals to lean on provinces to remove hurdles — political or otherwise — that have held up federal spending and, in turn, local construction plans for things like affordable housing, said Iveson, who chairs the federation's caucus of mayors from the largest cities in Canada.

     

    "If there's an opportunity to do the right thing and help reduce demand for a costly provincial public service, surely provinces can come to the table and be partners," Iveson said Thursday.

     

    "And if they're not, then the federal government needs to use all the tools in its tool kit to drive them back in to productive nation-building conversation."

     

    What the country needs, he said, was "courageous leadership" from all levels of government.

     

    Cities are also hoping for billions in new spending and potential new powers.

     

    On Thursday, the federation released its wish list for the first 100 days of the Trudeau government's second mandate. The document urges the Liberals to boost annual increases to the gas-tax fund to 3.5 per cent from two per cent, and permanently double the value of the program to about $4 billion.

     

    The group also wants the government to eliminate caps on funding for transit rehab projects, allow other spending to help cities upgrade their council chambers and administrative buildings, and add $2 billion in new spending for projects that help communities adapt to climate change.

     

    It's also asking for tens of billions in new spending commitments, including $34 billion for transit over 10 years once the current agreement runs out in 2028.

     

    Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna told the gathering of municipal leaders on Wednesday that getting projects built quickly is her top priority.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    ICBC Advises Drivers And Pedestrians To Take Extra Precautions On Halloween

    370 people were hurt in 1,000 crashes on Halloween last year

    ICBC Advises Drivers And Pedestrians To Take Extra Precautions On Halloween

    Canada Jetlines Postpones Launch Over Financing Challenges, Lays Off Staff

    Canada Jetlines Postpones Launch Over Financing Challenges, Lays Off Staff
    VANCOUVER - Canada Jetlines Ltd. is postponing its planned December launch and laying off most employees after failing to secure $40 million in required financing and losing investment partners.

    Canada Jetlines Postpones Launch Over Financing Challenges, Lays Off Staff

    Vancouver Transit Staff Serve Strike Notice

    Vancouver Transit Staff Serve Strike Notice
    Unifor says Coast Mountain Bus Company, which operates metro area transit services on behalf of TransLink, has failed to address workers' concerns about wages, benefits and working conditions..

    Vancouver Transit Staff Serve Strike Notice

    Crown Says No Criminal Charges In Case Of Quebec Teen Shot By Provincial Police

    Crown Says No Criminal Charges In Case Of Quebec Teen Shot By Provincial Police
    MONTREAL - Prosecutors in Quebec say there won't be any charges stemming from the police shooting death of a teenager east of Montreal in July 2018.    

    Crown Says No Criminal Charges In Case Of Quebec Teen Shot By Provincial Police

    Vancouver Island Police Probe Alleged Sex Assault Of Teen In Saanich Corn Maze

    Vancouver Island Police Probe Alleged Sex Assault Of Teen In Saanich Corn Maze
    SAANICH, B.C. - Police on Vancouver Island are investigating a report that a teenager was sexually assaulted while visiting a corn maze in Saanich.    

    Vancouver Island Police Probe Alleged Sex Assault Of Teen In Saanich Corn Maze

    Ninety-Eight Rookie MPs Undergo House Of Commons Training In Ottawa

    OTTAWA - Ninety-eight new MPs are in Ottawa to learn how to manage their budgets, get their parking passes and, later on, protect their sanity.    

    Ninety-Eight Rookie MPs Undergo House Of Commons Training In Ottawa