Chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Canada called upon the federal and provincial governments to establish a “national urban strategy” that includes a boost in funding for cities.
That strategy, said the boards and chambers, should include a new fiscal framework that ensures tax revenues are enough to sustain the infrastructure, services and programs in urban centres – without increasing the overall burden on taxpayers.
In return, the board and chambers said they would each adopt a federally- and provincially-approved fiscal transparency and accountability structure.
Bernie Magnan, the Vancouver Board of Trade’s chief economist, said in a release: “Large urban cities are facing the reality of growing urbanization and economic growth with limited resources to deal with increasing service requirements. Funding models need to change to meet these pressures while still demonstrating discretion."
Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, agreed financial resources should grow as cities progress.
"Urban centres are the core of our economic growth and future. We need our tax-sharing structure to progress along with the progression of our cities,” Carter said.
“At the same time, as a chamber, we support a strong accountability framework to accompany increased federal funding transfers to cities. We encourage the federal government to establish a new framework that addresses both the funding and accountability concerns."