Thank you, Chairman Easter.
Members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity to present to you today.
My name is Raymond Louie. I'm the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. I'm the acting mayor for the City of Vancouver. I've been elected like you for five terms—not all of you for five terms. I understand the work before you, having served six years as chair of the finance committee in the City of Vancouver.
I'm pleased to have this opportunity to discuss what is potentially a transformative federal budget for Canada, and I'll give you a few thoughts of what FCM is thinking.
What stands before us as elected officials is an opportunity to redefine how Canada works. It's an opportunity to work together to ensure that Canada's world-class cities are more livable, that they are competitive, and that our rural and northern communities also thrive.
As president of the FCM, I can tell you that Canada's local governments are ready to rise to the moment.
Mayors and municipal leaders have long understood that solutions to the country's biggest national challenges can be found right here in our neighbourhoods where people live and call home. That's why we welcome this government's $60-billion pledge for transit, social, and green infrastructure. We know these kinds of smart investments pay dividends for our economy and our communities.
Transit maintenance and new construction increase productivity, while reducing the smog and gridlock that plague our cities.
Social infrastructure, like affordable housing, is the cornerstone to ensuring livable neighbourhoods and a better quality of life for Canadians.
Green infrastructure investments, like home energy retrofits, create jobs, grow the economy, and help tackle climate change.
The FCM's 2016 budget submission is a blueprint for you to turn this bold vision into meaningful action. You'll see that we've distributed it to all of you. Hopefully you'll have a chance to review it during my speech and later on, as well. It lays out a comprehensive path to create jobs, spark sustainable growth, and provide a better quality of life for all Canadians.
Our budget submission focuses on priorities that matter most to Canadians in their daily lives. Not only that, it directs the distinct local realities of Canada's diverse communities and the realities that mean the difference between a well-intentioned policy and an effective policy. To do that the FCM and the municipal sector call on the federal government to streamline and improve the transparency of existing application-based infrastructure programs.
There is no shortage of worthy green infrastructure, social infrastructure, and transit projects ready to transform our communities. What we need is the right partner and the right environment. That means increasing the federal contribution to infrastructure projects and expanding and dedicating investments in Canada's rural communities. It means ensuring municipalities have the flexibility to make local, evidence-based decisions they are best positioned to make. It means ensuring both short-term repair and renewal investments that can create jobs immediately and long-term strategic investments that lay the foundation for Canada's future.
These are just some of the policy options put forward by the FCM's nearly 2,000 members and the 32 million Canadians that the FCM represents. Our budget submission touches on everything from building reliable public transit and affordable housing to creating more vibrant communities and a more sustainable future. Municipal leaders envision a thriving Canada of sustainable and livable communities with good jobs, exceptional transit, housing choices, and innovative responses to climate change.
Most importantly, Canadians envision it, too. It's what they voted for last fall.
To get there, municipalities need the tools and flexibility to do what we do best: find solutions and deliver results. All orders of government have to work together in full partnership.
Together let's rise to the moment. Let's show Canadians their leaders are transforming bold ideas into real jobs, growth, and more livable communities for all.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.