Canada is facing an “infrastructure deficit,” according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities – estimates suggest the lag has reached $123 billion nationwide, meaning basic facilities and structures needed for communities to function have deteriorated or haven’t been updated to keep up with growth.
It’s a situation familiar in Airdrie, where upgrades to infrastructure have not kept up with population growth.
“I think in order to be sustainable, you need to be able to fund the infrastructure you have,” said Lorne Stevens, Airdrie’s director of community infrastructure.
According to Stevens, transportation is a “huge issue” in the community, though responsibility often falls on municipalities and provincial governments to tackle funding.
“The federal government also provided (funds) for design work,” he said. “That’s a huge positive for this community. If there were more opportunities like that from the federal government, that’s big for us.”
With the federal election fast approaching, candidates in the Banff-Airdrie riding outlined their plans to advocate for projects necessary in the community.
The Liberal Party has made infrastructure spending a prominent platform item, with a promise to run federal deficits over the next three years in order to increase spending, which Banff-Airdrie candidate Marlo Raynolds said will help stimulate growth.
“The direct injection of infrastructure funding, working with provinces and municipalities, helps get these projects started and gets a lot of people back to work,” he said. “When I think about it as a business person, there are times you need to make strategic investments.
“You’re making that investment for a real return in the future.”
Raynolds said projects like 24-hour health care in Airdrie could be accomplished through a boost in federal funding.
“(Airdrie has) experienced an incredible growth rate. (But) their ability to keep up with infrastructure is outstripped. They’re not able to keep up with growth,” he said. “If elected, (I’d argue) that we need more than our fair share of the allotment for infrastructure.
“Health care is the primary responsibility of the Province, but my argument is if federal funding is coming for things like the interchange and transit and other investments, there is no excuse for the Province not to help make 24/7 health care happen.”
The Conservative Party has made a $5.8 billion funding promise in federal infrastructure across the country. According to Banff-Airdrie Conservative candidate and incumbent Blake Richards, that follows the “largest infrastructure plan in Canadian history.”
“To look at the fact that we’ve done all of that while we’ve been able to lower taxes and balance the federal budget, those are important aspects,” he said.
Richards cited the renovation of Plainsmen Arena, the widening of Veterans Boulevard and the renovation of the Bert Church Live Theatre as examples of local initiatives the federal government has funded while in power.
“Our biggest need right now is we need 24-hour health care in Airdrie,” he said. “I’ve made it clear to Michelle Bates (of the Airdrie Health Foundation), to our local MLA (Angela Pitt) to our mayor and our aldermen, I’m here and I’m ready to do anything I can do to help.”
The NDP platform includes a plan to invest $1.5 billion dollars annually in infrastructure. Banff-Airdrie candidate Joanne Boissonneault said giving money to local communities would help kickstart the economy.
“We want to invest in the middle class. That’s all part of infrastructure,” she said.
“By doing so, we will kickstart the economy and promote investment in our municipalities and our communities.”
If elected, the NDP plans on balancing the budget next year, and will not run deficits in order to finance campaign promises. Boissonneault said initiatives like $15 a day child care, taxing polluters and introducing new corporate taxes would help finance infrastructure promises.
“We will create long-term investments in vital infrastructure that will improve our economy, and that’s how we’ll do it. Without going into deficit,” she said.
Banff-Airdrie Green Party candidate Mike MacDonald said communication between municipalities and the federal government was “key” to his party’s plan to invest in $6.4 billion a year towards infrastructure.
“To me, that’s all about relationships. (Without) building relationships, you’re not going to get very far,” he said.
“I would be working with the province to then say, this is what Airdrie needs. I’d work on the federal side (and say) Airdrie needs federal money and build relationships with the provincial government.
“I don’t know that Mr. Harper has met with the Premiers for months and months now.”
MacDonald cited cuts to the Prime Minister’s Office and finding efficiencies in the tax system as methods available to pay for infrastructure while balancing the budget.
“As long as tax money doesn’t get gobbled up by the bureaucracy, as long as it ends up in the hands of the people, it actually stimulates the economy,” he said.
The federal election will be held Oct. 19.
