WINNIPEG, MB - Mayor Sam Katz says the City of Winnipeg will be watching for a new commitment to long-term, sustainable funding for municipal infrastructure in today's speech from the throne.
"I'll be looking for signs the province is ready to help us slay the municipal infrastructure dragon," said Mayor Katz. "Our roads and bridges, sidewalks, and public buildings, such as recreation centres and arenas, need repair. Deferred or delayed spending will only increase the costs that our cities will eventually have to face."
Winnipeg City Council and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities have previously asked the Province of Manitoba to provide one point of the existing provincial sales tax over and above existing allocations. This additional revenue would be dedicated as a stable, reliable source of funding for municipal infrastructure.
"In the last budget, the province increased the gasoline tax by 2.5 cents per Litre, but did not provide municipalities with the guaranteed revenue source we've been seeking," said Mayor Katz. "It's time for the province to deliver so municipalities can make some headway on our crumbling infrastructure."
In Winnipeg, growth in provincial grants has not kept pace with the growth cities have seen in other Canadian provinces.