April 23, 2008

Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Poll

Public wants increased federal funding for infrastructure: FCM study

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Increased assistance for municipal infrastructure needs ranked as the second-highest priority, behind only health care, in a recent survey of Canadians’ attitudes on municipal issues.

“Four to five years ago, health care and education were top priorities in the minds of most but you can see that changing,” says Jeff Morrison, director of government and public affairs at the Canadian Construction Association.

“Just listen to call-in radio shows and see the reactions to budgets — people are concerned about their infrastructure.”

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities [FCM] commissioned the survey done by The Strategic Counsel between Jan. 30 and Feb. 14, 2008.

The survey found that Canadians believe their municipal governments are under-funded in relation to the services they provide to their communities. Most believe provincial and federal governments should provide the additional funds, reports FCM.

“This poll leaves no room for doubt about Canadians’ views on the importance of their cities and communities and the need for federal government support for the places they call home,” Gord Steeves, president of FCM said in a press release. “Now it’s time for the federal government to act on Canadians’ priorities.”

More than 90 per cent of survey respondents say the federal government should help municipal governments deal with infrastructure issues, a view shared across the country, including Quebec and Alberta.

“People are waking up to the issues their municipalities are facing,” says Morrison. “They are realizing that a municipality’s tax take is eight per cent and it seems insufficient for the services they are expected to support.”

Over half of the respondents and 70 per cent of those living in large cities state that investments in infrastructure are falling behind. When given the choice between a GST transfer and increased property taxes to offset growth associated costs, 72 per cent preferred the GST option.

“This notion that people are willing to pay a higher tax as long as it is goes to infrastructure is a bit surprising,” says Morrison.

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