A local representative is hoping to get in on the ground floor of a national plan to solve city infrastructure problems.
Prince George Coun. Garth Frizzell is in the running for a seat on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) executive.
The national organization is holding its annual general meeting in Saskatoon starting Friday and wrapping up Monday. On Sunday, elections will be held for table officers, where Frizzell's name is on the ballot for third vice president along with representatives from Victoria, Surrey, Vancouver and Richmond.
"For the past three years, since my first election, I've been getting into more and senior roles [at FCM] and now as the B.C. caucus chair I wanted the chance to get Prince George's name onto the national map," Frizzell said. "And right now, the big work over the next two years is going to be on the infrastructure file."
As an officer, Frizzell would have access to the FCM's new municipal infrastructure forum, a group of municipal, business and industry leaders formed to help develop the federal government's new long-term infrastructure plan.
The current Building Canada Plan, which provides federal funding to local projects, expires in 2014.
"Essentially, we're at a tipping point now. Prince George isn't alone across the country. The infrastructure gap is huge and that's a fancy way of saying bridges are falling apart, that water systems are breaking down, sewage systems aren't working properly," said Frizzell. "And it's all coming to bear right now at a time when no order of government really feels flush with cash."
According to Frizzell, what's necessary is a long-term solution that won't be achieved overnight by the city rushing out to raise taxes or sell off property.
"It is a serious problem but we can't lose our heads and drop everything because the problem is not going to go away this year. It's going to be here this year, next year and the year after. We just need a common sense approach," he said.
Part of that approach is looking to make adjustments to the current tax model - an outdated system that sees municipalities receiving eight per cent of the share of tax dollars and having no other avenue but to raise city taxes when the budget gets tight.
"That's why we're seeing proposals from [Coun. Cameron Stolz] on fair share, we're seeing proposals from [Coun. Brian Skakun] on gas tax. It's because the property taxation model was set up in the 17th century England to solve a problem there," Frizzell said. "We're 21st century Canada and the reasons it was set up, well they just don't apply today."
On Tuesday, the FCM released its first report on the state of Canadian cities and communities. The report states that despite recent investments, the outlook for communities is uncertain as local governments continue to operate without a stable share of tax revenues.
This echoes the message that came out of the recent inaugural BC Mayors' Caucus that Mayor Shari Green attended in Penticton. The group of 86 community leaders called for a new deal to manage the increasing load of financial responsibility municipalities are expected to carry from tax revenue.
