Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here this afternoon on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, representing almost 2,000 member communities across this great country of ours. We represent 90% of the Canadian population.
I would like to thank you all for working to create jobs and making critical infrastructure repairs in the last few years.
Right now, the federal government is developing a new long-term infrastructure plan to replace the Building Canada plan, which expires in 2014. This new long-term plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the on-ground conditions for a strong, growing, and competitive economy. It's also a chance to give Canadians what they need: good roads, clean water, and solutions to the traffic gridlock that costs our economy billions of dollars every year.
There is no surer way to create jobs today and strengthen our economic foundations of tomorrow than investing in municipal infrastructure. When provincial, territorial, and local partners bring money to the table, no other investment goes as far or achieves as much. With the right long-term plan, we can put an end to the long decline in Canada's municipal infrastructure once and for all.
However, local governments don't have the tools to do it alone.
We have to do this together. We own and operate 60% of Canada's core economic infrastructure, but we collect just 8¢ of every tax dollar paid in Canada. In a couple of weeks, the FCM will be releasing a formal proposal with fully costed recommendations, but in the short time that I have here today I want to tell you where things stand right now.
The government has said it will have new infrastructure programs in place for the 2014 construction season. To meet that deadline, the new plan must be part of the 2013 federal budget and must be a plan that we can all endorse.
Getting the plan ready and making sure it meets the needs of our economy and our communities has been FCM's top priority. We've worked with the government, other stakeholders, and thousands of municipal leaders in every province and territory. Based on all that work, I want to share three points with you today.
First, there is broad support for an affordable plan that achieves the key federal objectives of supporting job creation and long-term economic growth, leveraging matching dollars from other orders of government, and expanding the private sector's role where it benefits Canadians.
Second, there's a strong agreement that the new plan must make the most of every tax dollar that we invest together. Also, it must show Canadians measurable improvements in the state of Canada's infrastructure, build the capacity of local governments to maximize efficiency through best practices and innovation, and minimize bureaucracy, red tape, and costly project delays.
Third, the final and most important point is that the new plan must make secure, reliable, and truly long-term investments in Canada's local infrastructure that are flexible enough to meet different regional needs. Every city and community is facing an infrastructure challenge. The nature of their needs may vary, whether it's roads, water, or traffic gridlock, but in every case the solution is long-term planning and long-term funding. Without investments it can count on, no community can meet its infrastructure needs.
Also, in a world full of economic uncertainty, Canadians want to know that we're taking action to build the conditions for a competitive economy and strong communities. As well, Canadians want to know that all orders of government are working together to make progress on practical priorities.
The new long-term infrastructure plan must benefit Canadians.
Local governments have worked closely with our partners in the last few years, and we want to keep working together for all Canadians.
We want to keep Canada on the road to jobs, growth, and a future we can count on.
I'd like to thank you for your time. I look forward to your questions.
Thank you very much.