Municipal infrastructure deficit getting addressed by Dion

In Calgary this weekend Dion gave the Big Cities Mayor’s Caucus what they wanted and desperately need. Municipalities have been at the short end of the stick for way too long by not being able to raise money to deal with aging infrastructure and in Alberta’s case, the need to expand due to increasing population growth. Dion’s statements this weekend was a breath of fresh air, albeit that he did not promise Mayor’s and city manager’s that if he was elected Prime Minister, he would give them 1% of the GST, he did promise them substantial future funding. Adding to his promise to permanently transfer the gas tax, Dion also promised to develop a 20-year strategy to deal with Canada’s infrastructure deficit.
Municipalities have always been considered the inferior of three levels of government, however with the world’s population increasingly moving into urban areas, the 21st century is proving to be the century of the city. The two higher levels of government need to stop treating the cities like a child as it is the cities that are the moving forces behind our growing economy. A city is where research and development, corporate headquarters, manufacturing, governmental institutions, trade and commerce are located. Without out the growth of cities, the industrial revolution would have never happened. It is cities that fuel our future and it is Dion’s promise this weekend that will hopefully open doors to further transferring of capital and one day greater responsibilities and revenue raising possibilities for cities.