When federal Liberals announced the creation last fall of a special "urban caucus" within their ranks, charged with the task of helping cities advance, Canada's municipal activists had reason to cheer. The party has a solid record on delivering a "new deal" for cities. While Liberals were in power, the GST was waived for purchases made by municipalities, money from the tax on gasoline was pumped into local budgets and public transit projects received special funding.
It would be only natural to expect a dedicated group of urban advocates within the Liberal caucus to forcefully champion new measures that would move the cities' agenda several steps forward. Unfortunately, when the caucus issued a recent discussion paper, there wasn't much push in evidence. Instead of aggressively pressing the case for municipalities, the urban caucus mostly advocated tepid and familiar measures that, while helpful, lacked essential boldness.
For example, rather than recommending a portion of the Goods and Services Tax go to municipalities, as demanded by Canada's mayors, the urban caucus called only for a study of new funding models.
Caucus members supported a national housing strategy and backed using decommissioned military bases as a source of affordable homes. But on the key question of money, they urged the status quo, advising a Liberal government to "maintain funding for housing by sustaining current levels of investment." Hardly a clarion call to action.
There was a predictable appeal for more infrastructure spending, including a fund for recreation facilities and a proposal for regular meetings between mayors and federal government leaders, plus special sessions to "co-ordinate strategies." The report did include a welcome recommendation to create a national transit fund, providing long-term, predictable funding for transit projects.
On the whole, however, there was little new here and even less that would inspire determined action. It seems a small return on travels by the caucus to cities across the country, consulting with "municipal leaders and stakeholders." Those meetings are to continue.
To be fair, this paper is not a final report. But it lacks fire and vision. Missing is bold thinking and a willingness to make hard demands of the Liberal leadership. Simply parroting back long-debated ideas isn't enough. The caucus needs more backbone if it is to succeed as a meaningful partner to Canada's hard-pressed cities, large and small.
This disappointing document raises the question: If the Liberal urban caucus won't fight hard for cities, who will?
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