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What we want

  • A national program aimed at expanding and upgrading physical infrastructure – our roads, public transit, transportation, water services and sewers, utilities, streetlights, parks, etc. – all publicly financed, built, owned, operated and delivered.
  • A long-term legislative framework to properly fund public infrastructure and erase the $60 billion municipal infrastructure deficit.
  • Accountability through full public ownership, management, operation, financing and control of infrastructure including an end to public private partnerships.

How the Liberals have failed

  • The Liberals support infrastructure privatization and P3s that force communities and provinces to take on debilitating debt, creating inequality by increasing user fees.
  • The Liberals’ “New Deal for Cities and Communities” is a patchwork approach to funding and it fails to provide the political and economic stability needed for communities to plan for the long term.
  • The “gas tax” transfer promised to cities and towns over the next five years falls woefully short of what is needed to reinvest in community infrastructure.

Why the Conservatives are worse

  • The Conservatives are against publicly funded and operated infrastructure. They want the private sector to own, operate and finance public facilities and services even though it is less efficient and more costly.
  • Harper wants further cuts to government and that means higher user fees, greater inequality, more P3s and deteriorating public services and infrastructure.

What the New Democrats say

  • In 2005 the NDP forced the Liberal minority government to spend more on social and physical infrastructure, including $100 million on social housing.
  • The party achieved an immediate gas tax transfer increase to five cents per litre as requested by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
  • The NDP would ensure public investment, operation and management of community infrastructure.