Mr. Chair, committee members, on behalf of the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, or CPRA, I'd like to thank you very much for inviting our association to appear at your pre-budget hearings. I'm Jennifer Reynolds, a past president of CPRA and the director of community services for the Town of Milton, Ontario.
CPRA is the national voice on the social, health, economic, and environmental benefits of parks and recreation. We most directly serve the interests of municipal parks and recreation while also supporting the broader sector in its delivery of these benefits nationally. We were pleased when we saw that two of the themes for your pre-budget process included ensuring prosperous and secure communities, including support for infrastructure, and supporting families and helping vulnerable Canadians by focusing on health, education, and training. Our recommendations support these themes.
We believe high-quality, accessible recreation opportunities are essential to the healthy well-being of individuals and the vibrancy of a dynamic society. All people and communities deserve equitable access to recreational experiences, yet the physical deterioration of the country's sport and recreation infrastructure is dramatically inhibiting many Canadians from achieving the health and social benefits derived from recreational pursuits. As such, we're here before you to recommend that the 2015 budget include an annual commitment of $925 million for three years to partner with provinces, territories, and municipalities to invest in an infrastructure program dedicated specifically to recreation and sport.
I'll take a moment to explain our recommendation. In the first half of the last decade, provinces and territorial governments and affiliated not-for-profit recreation and parks associations undertook studies that inventoried and assessed the physical condition of sport and recreation in Canada. The results of these studies were used to estimate that over $15 billion in deferred capital investment was required to repair or replace those facilities. This estimate did not account for funding for new facilities to meet growth-related requirements or to meet the country's changing demographic or cultural profile.
In 2006 provincial and territorial ministers responsible for sport, physical activity, and recreation used this information as the basis for calling for a designated national infrastructure program that would help to increase opportunities for Canadians. Since 2006 a number of programs—the Canada economic action plan, the infrastructure stimulus fund, and the recreation infrastructure in Canada program, or RInC—provided some needed funding support. These programs have helped certain communities with pressing recreational imperatives, but they really only represent a small proportion of the national need.
The $14-billion 2014 new Building Canada fund was announced, yet sport and recreation does not comply. The federal budget also included a federal gas tax fund increase, which is allocated to provinces and territories. While sport and recreation projects can apply, they must compete against 16 other categories. Evidence suggests that many municipalities will allocate funds to sewer and roads rather than pools, arenas, or trails, yet our sector across Canada is in desperate need of investment. Consider the scenario that more than 50% of municipally owned sport and recreation facilities across the country are at the end of their useful life, and most require renovation or upgrade. Facilities built before 1990 require retrofit to protect public safety and meet new standards for accessibility and energy efficiency. New facilities are needed to meet future population growth.
The 2006 estimate of $15 billion is now valued at $17 billion. Recognizing the many important demands on tax-supported funds, we're calling upon the federal government to work collaboratively within a shared mandate to address these needs. We're seeking an investment that focuses strictly on addressing critical repairs, maintenance, and adaptations necessary to ensure that these valued facilities remain as safe and reliable public assets.
Based on traditional tri-party funding programs involving federal, provincial, and municipal governments, the total ask of $925 million per annum for three years links directly to the pre-budget theme of ensuring prosperous and secure communities. Parks and recreation touch all Canadians. Recreation infrastructure is one of the most important core investments that can be made into the prosperity, health, and security of urban and rural communities. Although economic benefit is not the primary driver, recreation and sport infrastructure creates jobs. We provide welcoming communities for diverse cultures and aboriginal people.
As we near Canada's sesquicentennial, a meaningful investment into the health of our citizens would result in recapturing a community spirit second to none. The inclusion of a dedicated community fund will deliver a meaningful and tangible impact on the lives of families in rural and urban communities across the country.
Thank you.