Always more services to offer, but with limited funding: Canadian municipalities believe that their financial framework is not sustainable. They are calling for a summit meeting with the federal, provincial and territorial governments to review it.
In a report released Thursday during its conference in Calgary, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) calls on Ottawa to increase transfers by $2.6 billion per year to reach a total of $5 billion.
She also wants this amount to be indexed to growth to cope with the ever-increasing influx of population and services to be provided.
She expects the same boost from provincial and territorial governments, also asking them for $5 billion in new funds across the country.
This transfer could take the form of new taxing powers for municipalities or an allocation of a portion of provincial sales taxes or income taxes to municipalities.
The pressure of a growing population
The complaint of municipal underfunding is neither new nor province-specific, but population growth has made the calls more pressing.
people move here every day”,”text”:”Calgary is the fastest growing in the country. This means that 260 people move here every day”}}”>Calgary is the fastest growing in the country. This means that 260 people move here every day
notes the mayor of the Alberta municipality, Jyoti Gondek.
It is no longer a simple warning. The alarm is ringing. We need help.
The responsibilities of municipalities have only increased and become more complex, notes the FCM.
elected officials who resigned. The pressure is so high”,”text”:”I toured Canada, then it’s all the municipalities. For example, in Quebec, since the last elections, there are 800 elected officials who have resigned. The pressure is so high”}}”>I toured Canada, then all the municipalities. Example, in Quebec, since the last elections, there are 800 elected officials who have resigned. The pressure is so high
says Scott Pearce, president of the FCM and mayor of the township of Gore in Quebec.
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Call for a national solution
Calls from communities have multiplied to increase their funding, whether in Alberta, Ontario or New Brunswick.
In Quebec, the fiscal “dead end” led to the signing of a new pact at the end of last year, without completely resolving the situation.
Legault responded to Quebec municipalities, but it is broader than that. It takes a Canadian team”,”text”:”M.Legault responded to the Quebec municipalities, but it’s broader than that. It takes a Canadian team”}}”>Mr. Legault responded to Quebec municipalities, but it is broader than that. It takes a Canadian team
argues Scott Pearce.
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Scott Pearce is president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Adrian Wyld
Despite requests for additional funding, he does not believe that Canadians will still be asked to contribute. I think there is money in Ottawa, there is money in Quebec or in the provinces and it really reflects the needs of the population.
As mayor, I am not looking for a castle, I want to offer quality services, parks and infrastructure to citizens.
Strained relations in Alberta
The negotiations, however, promise to be difficult and even more so in Alberta. The United Conservative government of Danielle Smith passed a law requiring to be informed of any financial agreement between the federal government and its municipalities.
that we can work with the provincial government to jointly ask the federal government for the funding we deserve. But at this point it feels like Mom and Dad are fighting and I’m trying to keep the house going”,”text”:”I’d like to be optimistic [et dire]that we can work with the provincial government to jointly ask the federal government for the funding we deserve. But at this point it feels like Mom and Dad are fighting and I’m trying to keep the house together”}}”>I would like to be optimistic [et dire] that we can work with the provincial government to jointly ask the federal government for the funding we deserve. But at this point it feels like Mom and Dad are fighting and I’m trying to keep the house together
lamented the mayor of Calgary.
The Alberta municipality has calculated that the delegation of responsibilities from the province to municipalities represents an additional financial burden of $311 million per year.
