This is really important, and FCM is doing some really interesting work around a new proposed municipal growth framework. Until we figure out the long-term shifts between levels of government to fund municipal infrastructure, we want to be there with money to help ensure they can pay for the assets that help achieve the different goals we all want to see: a more livable community and more opportunities for people to access employment and services, all the good things that come with a healthy, functioning transit system.
We wanted to put money on the table to ensure communities wouldn't have to consider the other kinds of costs that were discussed. I know that during a previous set of questions around development cost charges, property taxes were raised as well. Municipalities have a fairly limited number of tools right now, so if other levels of government—provinces and the federal government—don't step up with reliable long-term funding, municipalities will have to ask themselves where that revenue is going to come from, or they will have to choose not to grow, and choosing not to grow right now would be a horrible mistake. Canada is poised for enormous success, and it's going to be led, in a lot of ways, by cities and communities of different sizes. If we're going to expect them to achieve a level of growth that promotes certain national interests, we will have to make sure they're funded to build out supports to allow a community to thrive.
I would go on, but the time has been exhausted.