Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to have the opportunity to address the members of this House and to reply on this motion.
The motion would condemn the government for a lack of vision in the area of job creation. I would like to comment on this point. A motion saying that the House should deplore the government's lack of vision and lack of concrete measures relating to job creation policies shows very little vision and very little concrete policies in and of itself.
It is a very shortsighted motion and a very shortsighted view of the program the government has placed before Parliament. All members of the House know what major issues are facing the country: the economy, the deficit and job creation. These are easy to see.
We have the example of previous governments that chose to address one or another of these problems at the expense of the others. Recent history has proven that an attack on the deficit only aggravates problems in the other areas, stifles economic growth, makes fewer jobs available to Canadians, and makes the deficit worse. Our view is that we must see the interdependence of all different problems we are trying to solve. This requires actions based on an integrated plan or a vision.
Our plan is to provide support to the economy, to reduce the deficit as quickly as possible without handcuffing economic recovery and to create jobs in the process. By keeping a keen eye on the process and the progress of each of the government's initiatives we know we will see results.
We as a government have put before the House and before Canadians a first step. It will not solve everything overnight, but it will provide a basis upon which we can build. It is the first step to economic recovery, to the well-being of individual Canadians and to the elimination of the deficit.
We have listened to Canadians. We are implementing our plan which includes jobs and growth. During the election campaign we were very clear about the solutions we were proposing. We are following through on them. One of the best and most visible examples is the infrastructure works program, a government program to rebuild the country's infrastructure over the next three years.
The infrastructure program is a shared-cost initiative to which each level of government in Canada-federal, provincial, territorial and municipal-will contribute $2 billion, for a total of $6 billion over the next two years. There will also be some flexibility so as to allow limited financing in the third year. The program is based on the collaboration of all levels of government in supporting infrastructure investment. The private sector will also be invited to invest in these public initiatives if their investments are considered useful to local governments.
The federal funds have already been divided among provinces and territories according to a formula based on the population and unemployment rate of each. I might add that that formula was approved by the First Ministers last December. Each province and territory will match the federal government's contribution, as will municipal and local governments.
The infrastructure program is intended to stimulate the economic recovery while responding to the need for infrastructure renewal and improvement in Canada. In this way, the program should help municipalities and communities to use new, efficient and environmentally sound technology while improving competitiveness and productivity.
We noticed a major reduction in the amounts spent for public infrastructure in Canada. In 1960, our three levels of government invested 4.3 per cent of the gross domestic product in fixed capital, but by 1980 it had dropped to 2.5 per cent.
Members opposite stress that right now, our financial resources are too tight to invest in infrastructure. We, on this side, do not agree at all with them.
The health of our cities and towns is absolutely central to the health of our economies. Good, efficient roads and transportation services reduce costs to individuals and businesses, avoiding expensive tie-ups, reducing wear and tear on vehicles, reducing operating costs. In the same way modern water and sewage systems are vital for servicing industry and commerce, as well as for the health of Canadians and the health of our environment. Without such services our communities cannot attract new industries or maintain the industries they have; local economies stagnate and communities die.
Our infrastructure has started to deteriorate and it will only continue to deteriorate. We have heard much about leaving a debt to our country and to our children. The cost of replacing infrastructure we do not maintain is far greater than the cost of maintaining it. If we do not do something now the debt we will be leaving our children is in collapsing sewers, unsafe water supplies, corroded bridges and crumbling roads.
There are longer term benefits to improving the infrastructure and the quality of life Canadians have come to expect. Improved infrastructure means improved environmental quality and improved amenities. It is vital to our quality of life, whether creating a clean and pleasant environment or a hospitable environment for working, living and doing business.
There are major issues in each of our cities that require urgent investment in infrastructure to remain competitive. These projects are needed to allow Canada and communities across the country to remain competitive and to continue enjoying the Canadian quality of life.
Our goal is to develop economic, social and technological infrastructure to support the efforts of all Canadians to make Canada stronger in coming years. Infrastructure works is a national program. We are investing in each province and territory. The provinces and the territories, as well as the municipalities, are matching our investment.
The infrastructure program is now a reality. Framework agreements have been signed with all partners, getting Canada's three levels of government working together for jobs and working together for Canadians. It is a tribute to the government that within barely two months of taking office we were able to get all the partners to the table and get the agreements.
People across Canada are interested in our country's economic well-being. They have businesses they want to keep working. The needs and commitment of these Canadians are also necessary to achieving the goals of the program.
All members have realized that in one way or another this program will affect their ridings and their constituents. All could probably list from memory a number of worthwhile projects that have been brought to their attention by the people who elected them. Not only will these projects be good for communities but they will also give a boost to the businesses in those communities. In each of those communities these projects will put people back to work. There will be jobs for people who are not working right now. This is job creation where it matters: in the homes, in the businesses and in the neighbourhoods right across Canada.
In every province projects will be submitted to a joint management committee by municipalities, by school boards and by other local groups. This means that the local level, the communities across Canada will be the key to the program. The projects that local governments are willing to approve, the projects that local communities identify as their priorities, will be the projects that make up infrastructure works.
This is truly rebuilding Canada from the grassroots up, rebuilding Canada in a democratic and equal way across the country.
There is also a responsibility in this program for every member of the House. Members can discuss with their town and city councils their local priorities, their local needs so they understand them and give them the support they can.
People will ask what infrastructure is. By agreement with each of the provinces it has been defined as the physical capital assets of our communities. That means the physical capital assets of the nation, with an emphasis on physical infrastructure associated with municipal services at the local level, things like water treatment, water distribution systems, sewage and drainage, roads and other transport facilities, buildings, machinery, equipment, earth works, related construction activities.
It can go further. The program has the flexibility to include smart infrastructure such as information highways or social, cultural and other economic priorities.
We have heard a great deal about government getting out of the way of businesses. A number of members of the House are obviously not aware that this program has the endorsement of the industry associations that will be involved in doing this work. The government does not go out and build roads and bridges. Companies across the country go out and build roads and bridges. We are giving them the opportunity to work again.
We hear a great deal from the opposition about listening to people and representing our constituents. Therefore I find it hard to understand why parts of the opposition have so much trouble listening to the people and the level of government that is closest to those constituents in their local towns, villages, townships and counties. These are the people who for 10 years have been asking their national government to take the leadership to bring all three levels of government together to rebuild the infrastructure of Canada. They continue to be strong supporters of the program, as do the business associations that will be involved in implementing the program.
The framework agreements specify the criteria that must be met for project approval: incremental and/or acceleration of investment; short and long term job creation; enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness; use of sound, innovative, smart technologies; bringing infrastructure up to community standards. Also included in the criteria are: codes and bylaws; enhancing long term skills in the workforce; enhancing environmental quality and sustainability; the use of sound, innovative, financial techniques, including the use of private capital and distribution of program benefits within a province or territory.
Yes, there will be an evaluation component so that when we reach the end of the program and as it proceeds we will know what it is accomplishing. This program will put people back to work this construction season. We will see 50,000 to 65,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs as suddenly construction workers and others in related industries have money in their pockets. They will have the money to go out and buy goods and services and to contribute to the public treasury as well.
A great deal of the initial $2 billion investment we have made will come right back to the government and to the people of Canada through the contributions of those people who are now working on this program instead of being unemployed.
From across the House we also hear a disparagement of construction jobs as if these are only old style job creation schemes and not real work for people. I am sorry, but somebody who digs a ditch, who operates a crane, who moves cement blocks, who puts a trowel to bricks is doing valuable, important and constructive work for this nation. We are proud of the jobs we are going to be creating. The people who will have those jobs will be proud of them.
We have heard that unemployment figures are up. Unemployment figures are up because this among other programs is bringing hope back to the country. People who have kept away from the job market are coming back because they believe now, with a new government in place, there may be a job for them.
The government believes it should keep its promises and put Canadians back to work. We ask for support, not criticism, from the other side of the House as we try to do that. By launching this infrastructure program we are helping the economic growth, helping Canadians get back to work and helping to reduce our deficit.
I truly hope that when motions come forward from the opposition, if they cannot be totally laudatory of our programs at least they might be more constructive.