Prince George, B.C. – In part nine of our special election coverage, the topic turns to infrastructure.

More specifically we asked the candidates: Most communities are facing an infrastructure deficit, how will you help communities in your riding deal with that issue? (answers in alphabetical order).

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies:

Elizabeth Biggar, The Green Party: Only 8% of Canadian tax revenue currently goes to municipal governments and we know that it is not enough.
The Green Party will redress the real fiscal imbalance facing the level of government least able to tax fully to cover its costs. Green Party MP’s will support the gas tax commitment to municipal governments. As well, we will advocate innovative strategies to liberate billions of dollars a year through RRSP deductions for municipal bonds.

Todd Keller, Libertarian Party: There is no quick fix to structural debt problems. However, I would work towards development of “sound money” for Canadians. Debt is a lot easier to pay off when your dollar has purchasing power. The current government consistently debases our currency while it increases your taxes to pay for their mistakes. This must stop! I would advocate a gold backed Canadian dollar to stabilize it’s value as an initial step. I have a lot of new ideas on this subject.

Matt Shaw, Liberal Party: As mentioned earlier, the Liberal Government has committed to spending an extra $60 billion in infrastructure over the next ten years. As an MP, I will make sure that my riding receives its fair share of that investment. I will also investigate how infrastructure investment in the North has fallen behind other areas of Canada and make a strong case for special treatment when it comes to accessing federal funds for the North.

*Note Conservative incumbent Bob Zimmer and NDP challenger Kathi Dickie in the Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies riding declined the opportunity to respond.

Cariboo-Prince George:

Tracy Calogheros, Liberal Party: The Infrastructure Plan released by the Liberals is an exceptional program. With close to $120 billion over 10 years, Canada will repair and restore existing infrastructure and invest in emerging technologies. The plan targets specific community deficits by placing the decision-making for expenditures squarely in the municipal chambers. Mayors and their Councils will be able to look to their capital lists, prioritize those projects, and know that there are dollars available to make them a reality. Unexpended money at fiscal year-end will be distributed to the municipalities in a format not unlike the gas tax, giving them even greater control and flexibility to target areas of need on a community-by-community basis. I have already begun a consultation process with the municipalities in my riding to get a sense of what they see as necessary projects for the region. Ideally, we would meet as a region and look area-wide at potential projects so that we can support each other as we build our future.

Sheldon Clare, Independent: The current two billion dollar Federal Gas Tax Fund supports community infrastructure. This federal program is a reasonable means of supporting community infrastructure across Canada. The federal GTF may be used for a variety of municipal projects and I support it.

Encouraging municipalities to consider long term plans that aim at replacing five percent, or other specific amount of infrastructure each year is a worthwhile goal, depending on the life span of specific aspects of that infrastructure. Reintroducing the long-form census would also help to ensure that the amounts allocated are done so fairly, and in keeping with community needs based on population. Some streamlining of bureaucratic reporting processes would certainly help to focus resources on direct support for infrastructure as well.

Adam De Kroon, Christian Heritage Party: I would work with communities each on an individual basis to find solutions related to infrastructure deficit. I support more federal funds to communities for infrastructure. If we go through the budget and weed out all the wasteful government spending I believe we’ll find a significant amount of money that we can then direct to things that really matter to Canadians, like healthcare and infrastructure.

Trent Derrick, NDP: Canada’s municipal infrastructure deficit is a staggering $172 billion and rising. Municipalities own 60% of our public infrastructure, yet collect only eight cents of every tax dollar. After years of downloading and neglect, too many municipalities are struggling. Past infrastructure plans have failed to get funding out the door – with complicated application processes and public-private partnership requirements that shut out smaller communities while adding years of uncertainty and delays to important projects. The NDP are committed to improving our infrastructure deficit. We will start with investing the equivalent of one additional cent of the existing gas tax. This will provide additional funding in the first year that will ramp up to an additional $1.5 billion invested at the end of a first mandate. This NDP initiative will provide annual, stable, long-term investment for infrastructure projects.

Todd Doherty, Conservatives: Our government has worked with communities by investing in projects that help our communities thrive – projects like pools, hockey rinks, etc. that keep people in our communities. The federal government has invested over $2.2 billion in our region on community halls, arenas, and investing in other major infrastructure projects, like the West Quesnel Land Stability Project, which aids in major infrastructure repairs. Our government has also reinvested in community airports, which are vital for attracting and maintaining business and industry in these communities.

Richard Jacques, The Green Party: I would redirect Federal funding towards major municipal and provincial projects with oversight to ensure communities are benefiting from the work being done.

Tomorrow’s question: What would you be willing to cut from the federal budget in order to balance the books?