Why municipalities need equitable infrastructure funding

Message from AUMA President Barry Morishita

We’re into the second week of the provincial election campaign and I hope all of you are taking advantage of every opportunity to raise the issues of equitable infrastructure funding, cannabis revenue, and improved resources for policing with the candidates in your riding. 

This week, I want to highlight the importance of infrastructure funding for our communities. This has been a key issue for our members for years and a large focus of AUMA’s advocacy work with both the provincial and federal governments. 

Much time, energy and effort were spent working with the province trying to establish a suitable replacement program for the Municipal Sustainability Initiative, which expires in 2021-22. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to come to an agreement before the election was called.  The City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary received a long-term funding agreement linked to provincial revenues. It is now time for the rest of Alberta to get an equitable deal.

Alberta municipalities need an equitable, adequate and predictable infrastructure funding program that is established in legislation and allows municipalities to plan effectively while being flexible to the province’s fiscal realities. AUMA has proposed a new fiscal framework that offers:  

• Adequate funding that is equitable with the City Charters Fiscal Framework Act  
• Predictability by calculating the amount of annual funding based on the province’s actual revenues from three years prior  
• Long-term growth of the funding through a link to provincial revenues  
• Stability by enshrining the fiscal framework in legislation 

 Let the provincial candidates in your riding know that Alberta communities are stronger with a commitment from government for equitable infrastructure funding. 

Check back next week when I discuss cannabis revenue sharing.  In the meantime, visit auma.ca/election 2019 for more information on the three key municipal issues and AUMA’s campaign for Strong Communities Build Alberta.