Is it possible a simmering municipal issue will influence the outcome of the upcoming federal election?
According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, local governments own more than 60 per cent of the country’s infrastructure but are allotted just eight cents of every tax dollar collected across the country. That revenue disparity and the accompanying downloading by federal administrators of costs associated with municipal infrastructure and public services should get some serious airtime during all-candidates meetings in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Three years ago, the BC Mayors’ Caucus agreed that the existing ad hoc federal granting procedure needs to be replaced with a process that is “sustainable, accountable, quantifiable and allows for long-term planning by local governments.” More recently, a survey of councillors, mayors, and regional district directors conducted by the Columbia Institute’s Centre for Civic Governance revealed that an overwhelming majority of respondents were concerned about a system that fails to provide adequate federal and provincial financial support to buffer downloading costs.
According to the follow-up report, funding reductions have left municipal governments with “a gaping hole” in their operations. Federal and provincial social housing and services cuts were cited as a major factor in the mental health and homelessness crisis plaguing many communities.
And the report states that after the federal Wastewater System Effluent Regulation came into effect in 2012, new standards for treatment and collections systems were established without provisions for direct financial support to municipalities within the framework of the regulations.
When it comes to easing shortfalls, all three of the major federal parties have entered the municipal rescue sweepstakes. In an eruption of pre-election largesse, the Conservative government recently announced a new $150 million grant program for upgrades to existing community centres, hockey rinks, Legion halls and bike trails. Unfortunately, that initiative left municipalities scrambling to meet the tight application submission deadline.
The NDP are tilling their own patch of fertile election soil with the promise of an annual $1.5 billion infusion for municipalities. Not to be outdone, the Liberals are wooing voters with a staggering pledge of $125 billion over 10 years to relieve the escalating community infrastructure deficit.
It remains to be seen whether that promissory funding motherlode will influence the election outcome. But it certainly can’t hurt.
