Well, of course, that isn’t true in real life. In real life, we have both a fiscal deficit and an infrastructure deficit (not to mention the more pressing ecological deficit), and none of them are subject to a plausible plan leading to elimination.

In Montreal, some of the water pipes that run under the city are so old that they are made of wood. Across Canada, water works are antiquated and designed for a climate we no longer haveas increased and more intense deluges lead to raw sewage bypassing treatment to enter rivers and seas, untreated. We have bridges that are shut down for repairs, in Saskatchewan and Quebec.

In six Western Canadian cities alone, (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg), the Canada West Foundation puts the infrastructure deficit in 2003 at $543-million. That critical weakness in infrastructure is in roads and bridges, water-works, lack of efficient public transit, lighting, waste disposal and on and on.

The most recent figures I could find come from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) in its January 2013 report. According to the CCPA, the extent of gap between safe and modern infrastructure and our current situation is $145-billion worth of missing investment. To address the threat posed by crumbling infrastructure, CCPA says we need an additional $20-billion to $30-billion a year.

We know that kind of money is not going to come from the coffers of municipal governments. Of every dollar paid in taxes, only eight cents goes to municipal governments. Yet it is in municipalities that we experience our closest relationship with any level of government.

The current Conservative administration has done some good things in this area. The gas tax fund is now specifically tied to municipal infrastructure funding, but that is only approximately $3-billion per year. The overblown announcement, particularly in the leaks in advance of the 2013 budget, claimed that the Harper administration had committed a new high in commitment to infrastructure of $53-billion. Why not call it a $530-billion announcement? The big number comes from taking virtually status quo spending and multiplying it out by 10 years? Why not 100 years? It is no more helpful to municipalities. Worse, the spending, ($32.2-billion existing from gas tax fund and the implementation of the GST tax rebate, $14-billion in support of major infrastructure, including $4-billion for federal infrastructure spending, and $1.25-billion to renew the P3 Canada Fund) will not kick in with any funding increases until after the next election and the 2015 due date for getting to balanced budgets.

While the infrastructure deficit that exists today presents a $20-billion to 30-billion annual shortfall, the climate crisis will raise the stakes considerably. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has recommended that the federal government increase support for municipal infrastructure in response to the increased risk to assets due to the manmade destabilization of climate. Global warming is leading to increased severity and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

The U.S. General Accounting Office has determined that the threat to U.S. federal assets qualifies climate change as “high risk” to the health of U.S. government finances. Yet, here in Canada, we have no carbon reduction plan and no adaptation plan. Without both we are headed for new and unprecedented threats to our future, our economy and our infrastructure.

If anyone doubts that profound impacts of the changes brought on by global warming, review the costs of the brief burst of heavy rainfall that caused the collapse of Finch Avenue in Toronto in July 2009. This one event cost Toronto millions of dollars to repair. Warmer atmosphere contains more moisture than colder air and, as a result of global warming, Canada’s rainfall patterns have already changed. The impact is severe on infrastructure built for a different climate. This applies to roads, waterworks, and developments in floodplains.

Meanwhile, northern infrastructure is severely impacted by melting permafrost and buildings along tornado alleys requires significant adaptation investment. None of this is currently budgeted within announced funds.

Let’s agree it is time to take The High Road, make like a group of Angus McLintocks, and start funding our shared, common and public servicesroads, bridges, water-works, public transit, common spaces. It is time dedicate the resolve and funds necessary to eliminate the infrastructure deficit.

Originally published in the Hill Times.

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The October 22nd meeting heard from three groups of witnesses.  These were Adam Bienenstock, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds; Andrea Gabor, President and David Wise, Chair, Policy Advisory Committee of the  Canadian Institute of Planners; and  Jennifer Powley, Coordinator of Our HRM Alliance  and Mark Butler, Policy Director of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.

The October 24 meeting heard from four groups of witnesses.  These were Monica Andreeff, Executive Director of the Association for Mountain Parks, Protection and Enjoyment ; Anne Charlton, Director, Parks and Chris Manderson, Natural Area Management Lead, Parks of the City of Calgary;  Michael Rosen, President and Dorothy I. Dobbie, Past Chair, Board of Directors of Tree Canada and Mark Cullen, Chair of Trees for Life – Urban Tree Coalition.

Presentations from all witnesses emphasised the many benefits to be gained from green urban spaces from playgrounds, to small pockets of green, to tree-lined streets, to larger urban parks.  The benefits listed include improved  health and wellness for urban populations especially children who are now experiencing a “nature deficit”, economic benefits as cities improve their liveability, increased real estate values, increased tourism,  societal benefits and ecological benefits from carbon sequestering to water management and filtering.

The witnesses also talked about the need for balance with development and industrialization and business.  They gave the committee many ideas for how the federal government could assist in the rational greening of our cities including creating a National Urban Conservation/Forests Strategy, providing leadership, guidance, research and science,  funds, education and legislation and co-ordination to assist municipalities and other levels  of government reach their conservation goals in urban areas within their jurisdiction.

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“The Stampede is a celebration of Alberta, of the early pioneer days and of a current way of life. It’s about being close to the land and respecting the land. That’s why I look forward to participating every year,” said Ms. May. “As with many traditions, however, impacts must be examined. More steps can be taken to protect animals, and ending calf-roping would be a positive step to keep the Stampede in touch with the times and respect public concern for compassionate treatment of animals.”

The Green Party of Canada does not support a call from the UK Green Party for Prince William and Princess Kate to boycott the Calgary Stampede.  “We welcome the Royal couple. This is a great opportunity for them to be part of a truly Canadian experience.  We hope that public pressure is respectful of the event itself, while pressing for needed change,” said Ms. May.

Elizabeth May will take part in Stampede events this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She will not attend any events that have been identified for concerns about animal welfare.

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