Statement by Federation of Canadian Municipalities President on Federal Budget Commitment to Develop a New Long-Term Infrastructure Plan for Cities and Communities

We shall look forward to hearing how this announcement might help Cranbrook's infrastructure needs.

JUNE 6, 2011

OTTAWA - The following statement was released today by Berry Vrbanovic, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), following the federal budget commitment to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan:

"We applaud the Government of Canada for committing in today's budget to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), provinces, territories, and the private sector.

Working with municipalities, the federal government has fought the global recession and started rebuilding the roads, water systems, and public transit that our businesses, workers and families depend on. Today's budget shows the government is ready to continue working with municipalities to build an economy that keeps growing and creating jobs over the long-term.

2000 municipal leaders are heading home today from FCM's annual conference in Halifax, ready to help turn today's budget commitment into a plan for better infrastructure and transportation systems right across the country. We look forward to working side by side with the new Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Denis Lebel, a former mayor who knows firsthand the fiscal challenges municipalities face and the importance of all governments making sustained investments in core infrastructure.

The federal budget also included a commitment to enshrine the permanent Gas Tax Fund in legislation, an important first step to providing greater certainty to municipalities, provinces, and territories.

The road to a stronger economy and safer streets runs straight through our cities and communities. We look forward to building on our partnership with the federal government to reverse the decline in our aging infrastructure, and also to keep police on the streets, fix cracks in our housing system, and protect core services as the federal government balances its budget deficit."