Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj believes it is important that councillors understand the scope of what is being requested by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) when it comes to infrastructure funding.
“It is an issue unfolding across the whole country.”
Ross-Zuj has been an FCM committee member since 2005 and on the board since 2010.
She referenced a recent meeting in Ottawa which included Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Ross-Zuj stated that council needs to be aware of what is within the FCM plan.
Ross-Zuj explained the plan has three main components – one of which is the gas tax and that it would be indexed.
She said Harper didn’t exactly give a nod to say ‘yes,’ “but he certainly didn’t say no” to the idea.
The next component referred to the Canada Build Fund which included one-third funding from the federal, provincial and local governments.
She said Ontario was one of the few provinces which did commit to the formula which involves competitive based funding for a variety of projects.
But the main pillar, she said, is a transfer payment not based on competition – “but based on need.”
Ross-Zuj said that is where municipal asset management plans are essential.
The money received would then be used to deal with infrastructure needs in the categories of roads, bridges, water and waste water.
Ross-Zuj called it “a $2.5 billion plan over a 20-year-period to provide stable funding for municipalities to deal with big items.”
She said that approach would eliminate the competitive aspect for those types of projects.
She said there would still be a competitive aspect regarding funding for other types of projects such as museums or recreation.
Ross-Zuj said Centre Wellington’s situation regarding its bridges became the talk of the caucus.
She said the funding can’t be based on per capita.
On that basis, Orangeville would get the same funding as Centre Wellington, but Orangeville doesn’t have 107 bridges, she said.
She said the asset management plan will illustrate the municipal need.
“Everyone agreed that you have to pull the basic infrastructure needs out of the competive funding,” Ross-Zuj said.
She said there is a difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wish lists’.
Ross-Zuj said it was a good four-day meeting for those involved – including the Prime Minister.
“He didn’t go to Halifax, he was with the municipalities.”
She said one of the top stories at the time was why the pime minister wasn’t meeting with the provincial premiers.
She noted that local MP Michael Chong did review the plan with her, and was very supportive.
The only challenge, she suggested, will be the focus of the federal government in the coming year.
“If the focus is debt reduction, that is not good for any money leaving town [Ottawa]. If the focus is on jobs, stimulus and employment, then there will be opportunities,” Ross-Zuj said.
She added that Chong was waiting to see which direction the government would take.
Ross-Zuj was positive about the recognition by the federal government that sustainable infrastructure funding is needed.
“The province … I have no idea where we are going there.”
She said there has been some commitment towards the Build Canada Fund, but it may be a case of wait-and-see to see how January plays out.
