Liberal infrastructure plan raises concerns

​CUPE supports additional funding for municipalities, but we’re very concerned with the Liberals’ plan to continue Harper’s P3 program. The Liberal plan is about working with private sector infrastructure financing. Like Harper, Liberals have generally embraced public-private partnerships, which have been a disaster for many municipalities and public sector workers.

While the Liberals’ promise to increase federal funding for public transit, social infrastructure and “green infrastructure” has merit, CUPE would prefer to increase dedicated transfers such as an expansion of the Gas Tax Fund.

Canada also needs a greater commitment to social infrastructure, to public and affordable housing, childcare, education, and health care. The Liberal plan appears to be “more of the same” - short term stimulus spending that generally goes to construction - rather than a vision that would help launch the type of transformative economic, social and environmental change we need.