Piggybacking on NDP leader Jack Layton's pledge to support cities with dedicated resources to build green infrastructure, upgrade water treatment facilities and build affordable housing, Prince George-Peace River NDP candidate Lois Boone did the same.
Boone said Tuesday there is an infrastructure deficit -- which includes roads and water systems -- in northern B.C that needs to be addressed, as the parties continued to flesh out their platforms before the May 2 election.
"It doesn't matter where I go when I'm talking to members of municipalities -- the mayors, or whomever -- infrastructure is one of their main issues," Boone said Tuesday. "They all have sewer systems, road systems, water system that are aging -- and they need dollars to upgrade them."
Boone, a former NDP provincial cabinet minister, said the municipalities don't want to have to apply through infrastructure programs that share one third of the cost between the federal government, the province and municipalities.
That's because it's hard for municipalities to come by their portion of the cost, she said.
Boone said the money would come from a one cent increase in the gas tax dedicated to municipalities, allowing the communities to decide how they could use the money.
Boone was not sure how much money the one cent increase would provide in dollars.
Information in the NDP platform is less clear on exactly how money for infrastructure projects will flow to municipalities.
A $200 million a year provincial/federal infrastructure fund is mentioned, but there is no mention of the gas tax.
Layton did announce that a one cent increase in the gas tax would provide stable funding for transit in municipalities of $500 million a year.
He also promised 2.6 billion over four years in affordable housing and to develop a national housing strategy. The NDP would also invest $1 billion over four years for renewable energy projects.
A gas tax fund was started in 2004 under the Liberals to provide money directly to municipalities for infrastructure projects. It was continued under the Conservatives, and currently it provides $2 billion a year across Canada.
Prince George is set to receive $2.9 million in each of the next three fiscal years from the gas tax, according to estimates produced by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
Prince George-Peace River candidate Bob Zimmer was not immediately available for comment Tuesday, but earlier said the Conservatives have already promised to make the gas tax transfer permanent.
"We see that as a need, and I believe we are responding in a good way," said Zimmer, a high school teacher and carpenter from Fort St. John.
Zimmer also noted that the Conservatives have provided stimulus funding for infrastructure projects, including road upgrades in the Pine Pass, as part of its effort to mitigate the impacts of the recent global recession.
Prince George-Peace River Liberal candidate Ben Levine said that federal funding to municipalities definitely needs to be increased, but he wasn't certain by how much.
He said the need for more funding is obvious because of the road improvements, and water and sewer upgrades needed throughout the region, including in Prince George and Dawson Creek.
"We are totally committed to the concept of federalism and we would like to lead in that area," said Levine, a Prince George lawyer.
