Improved Internet access and a commitment to keep funding infrastructure upgrades were good news for municipalities in last week’s federal budget.
Budget 2012 contained several highlights that will affect rural and small-town Canada. They included an ongoing commitment for a new, long-term infrastructure plan implemented before the Building Canada Fund ends in 2014, $150 million commitment to the new Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund for job creation and community investment, and $99.2 million over three years for provinces and territories to pay for permanent flood-mitigation measures.
The federal government also said it will improve Internet access among rural remote and northern communities, and promised to eliminate duplication in federal policies which add unnecessary costs to municipalities when applying for disaster financial assistance.
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The Association of Manitoba Municipalities would like to have seen cash allocated for affordable housing construction, AMM president Doug Dobrowolski said in a news release.
In its 2012 federal budget submission, AMM had asked for renewed federal housing programs and help for long-term provincial and municipal housing strategies. Existing programs are set to expire in 2014.
Many communities are growing and now lack supportive housing for seniors, more rental housing and affordable housing for families of all sizes, according to the AMM.
“Manitoba municipalities are growing and attracting new people who have no place to live,” said Dobrowolski, adding that government should provide tax incentives to the private sector to build affordable housing.
