For Immediate Release
March 22nd, 2016
Federal Budget 2016 Bold Plan for Investment, Growth and City-Building: Mayor Crombie
Mississauga – City-building is nation-building, and the Trudeau government’s 2016 Budget is a bold plan that will position Canada’s municipalities to grow, prosper and secure important funding to invest in transit, infrastructure and ignite economic development, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said today.
“Serious, smart, dedicated and long-term funding for local priorities will grow our national economy,” Mayor Crombie said. “Budget 2016 presents an opportunity to make both short and long-term investments,” Mayor Crombie added.
In particular, Mayor Crombie highlighted the Trudeau government’s commitment to invest:
- $3.4 billion over three years to upgrade and improve public transit systems across Canada;
- $3.4 billion over five years for social infrastructure including affordable housing, cultural and recreational infrastructure;
- $11.9 billion over five years toward pressing issues like public transit, affordable housing and infrastructure;
The Trudeau government also plans new investments in infrastructure that total more than $120 billion over the next decade.
Budget 2016 increases the federal contribution to a minimum of 50 percent of total eligible costs for projects funded under the new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. “This will lessen the burden on municipalities and allows us to get shovels in the ground, people to work and local priorities built.”
“This is good news for Mississauga, Peel Region and will lead to critical investments in our local infrastructure to ensure we remain a competitive city with a quality of life that is second to none.”
Of note, Mayor Crombie highlighted the long-term economic benefits the Trudeau government’s investments in affordable housing commitments will lead to.
“Housing is a major contributor to economic growth, social stability, health, education and household wealth,” Mayor Crombie said. “Every dollar in affordable housing generates a $1.40 increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and every dwelling generates approximately 3 years of employment,” Mayor Crombie added.
“Budget 2016 is a roadmap that will transform the way we build cities and marks a new area of federal-municipal partnerships,” said Mayor Crombie, who has wasted no time meeting with senior cabinet ministers in advance of the federal budget, including: Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport.
Mayor Crombie said next steps for the City of Mississauga now include developing a detailed plan that identifies opportunities to secure funding for Council-approved priorities from the new federal government programs.
In February 2016, the City of Mississauga formally provided a pre-budget submission to the Trudeau government that highlighted Mississauga’s efforts to bring all-day two-way GO Train service to the Milton and Kitchener GO Train lines with the Missing Link Plan.
“We continue to engage in productive discussions on this and many of the other transit and infrastructure priories for the City of Mississauga.”
Mayor Crombie concluded “I believe when we work to achieve real results for the people of Mississauga, our nation’s sixth largest city, all of Canada is better positioned to grow, prosper and succeed.”
For more information, read the full City of Mississauga Federal 2016 Pre-Budget Submission.
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