Mayors push to make cities an election issue

DARREN YOURK

Globe and Mail Update

May 28, 2004 at 1:06 PM EDT

Canada's big-city mayors are calling on Canadians to make the health of their cities a decisive election issue.

On the same day the Liberal Leader Paul Martin unveiled the details of his much talked about "new deal" for cities, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) issued a release urging voters to press candidates on their plans for the long-term health of cities.

"There has been more than enough discussion about the new deal and the urban agenda" said Edmonton mayor Bill Smith. "This election offers Canadians an opportunity to ask their candidates what they plan to do for Canada's cities."

The FCM gave Mr. Martin credit for taking steps toward helping cities through the strategic infrastructure program and 100 per cent GST refund initiatives he has already announced in the 2004 budget, but cautioned that more must be done.

Paul Martin listens to a question during a scrum following a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton on Friday. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)

Mr. Martin's plan includes giving cities a share of tax revenue, infrastructure funding, cash for affordable housing and a support for "green communities."

"No matter who will form the next government, Canada's cities need a plan to sustain their competitiveness and quality of life," FCM president and Gatineau mayor Yves Ducharme said. "It's time we heard from each and every candidate for Parliament and their parties where they stand on these issues."

The FCM passed a resolution Friday that set out five questions they want Canadians to put to their local candidates, including a commitment to allocate 5 cents a litre of the federal fuel excise tax to investment in municipal infrastructure and involving cities as partners in federal and provincial policy.

Mr. Martin's announcement, seen as another major plank in the Liberal platform, commits a share of the federal gas tax to communities. Beginning in 2005, the amount will grow to 5 cents a litre over the next five years to about $2-billion per year.

"The reality is that our municipalities are the most under funded of the three levels of government and they have the least amount of say when the policies of other governments have an impact on them," Mr. Martin said in a speech to the general meeting of the FCM in Edmonton Friday.

"This has to change. Communities must be able to access new, reliable sources of funding."

The money will have to be spent on federal priorities such as sustainable development, public transportation, social housing, reducing urban sprawl and building infrastructure.

The Liberals say they'll work co-operatively with municipalities and provinces to accelerate the elimination of the so-called "infrastructure deficit" by developing new financing models.

"We know that communities require new sources of stable, predictable funding so that you and your councils can make long-term financial commitments — commitments that will enable you to undertake major new initiatives that will benefit all those who live in your communities," Mr. Martin said. "That is the only way we will as a nation finally stop working off a 19th century blueprint for a 21st century reality."

The Liberal plan also ads up to $1.5-billion over the next five years to affordable housing and promises a continued commitment to the environment by supporting public transit in major urban centres.

We're committed to this proposal," Mr. Martin said. "We're committed to it because we understand your needs. We're committed because we view it as a strategic investment in our cities and communities, and in Canada as a nation."

In the NDP platform released earlier this week, Jack Layton pledged to share half the gas tax with municipalities immediately and give all municipalities a full GST refund.

The NDP also pledged $1.7-billion for housing and $1.6-billion for municipal infrastructure.

Mr. Layton said Friday that the Liberal plan doesn't give cities enough money and is being rolled out too slowly.

"He should have been giving the gas tax this year. That's what he promised. Now we find it's next year," Mr. Layton said during a campaign swing through Quebec. "It should have been 5 cents a litre as he promised. Now we find out it's only a fraction of that, with maybe more to come later."

Mr. Martin didn't comment on the NDP plan, put took a swipe at both the Conservative and Bloc Quιbιcois camping pledges on municipalities.

"The Bloc says that we should not talk directly to the cities and municipalities," he said. "They believe that we should not even be here with you in order to find solutions to your problems."

"The Alliance Conservatives' position isn't much different...Their platform offers plenty of rhetoric about the importance of our communities. But their policies offer only cutbacks, which would render innovative measures by Ottawa impossible —And even where they do accept to act, they step away from the federal government's responsibility to our cities and communities."

The mayors of Canada's largest 22 cities urge local residents and businesses to make the New Deal for Canada's cities a decisive issue in this Federal election and ask all candidates standing for Federal parliament the following questions:

-What is your party's position with respect to the New Deal for Canada's cities?

-Will your party as a priority allocate 5 cents/litre of the federal fuel excise tax to support urgently needed investment in municipal infrastructure, primarily for transportation and public transit by the end of 2004?

-Will your party enter into agreements with cities and the provinces/territories to create financial sustainability that would include sharing revenues that grow with the economy by the end of 2005?

-How will your party involve cities as partners in federal and provincial policy, program and budget deliberations on issues that have a direct impact on urban centres?

-What other actions will your party take to strengthen the competitiveness and quality of life of Canada's cities?

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