Statement made on 23 November 2006 by Senator Francis Fox (retired)
Hon. Francis Fox:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate and concerns municipal financing. More than 100 municipal elected officials from across Canada met over the past few days in Ottawa to urge the Government of Canada to make a long-term commitment to helping municipalities finance public transit, housing and other priorities.
During the meeting, the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Gloria Kovach, emphasized that municipalities are now facing a $60 billion black hole just to catch up on municipal infrastructure works.
The Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, said he hoped this government would promise to permanently finance those sectors that should, in his view, come under federal responsibility, such as housing and the continuation of the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, which has provided nearly $700 million to Canadian cities since its inception in 2000.
Can the honourable Leader of the Government in the Senate give us an indication of the Canadian government's intentions in response to the pressing arguments made by the municipalities?
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