(VANCOUVER)– Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (Saanich—Gulf Islands), held a campaign event in Vancouver to highlight the Greens’ plan for municipalities. She was joined by Claire Martin, Green Party candidate (North Vancouver) and Wes Regan, Green Party candidate (East Vancouver).
Our Green approach recognizes that municipal and local governments need funding and financing to attack the infrastructure debt. Funding comes in the form of an additional $6.4 billion annually. Enhanced low-interest financing comes from the Infrastructure Bank.
“The Harper Conservatives continue to ignore calls from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for stable, long-term infrastructure funding,” said Ms. May. “The Green Party’s plan to commit 1% of the GST – or an additional $6.4 billion annually – towards this need will help municipalities deal with an infrastructure deficit estimated to be upwards of $350 billion. It’s time to close the infrastructure gap and build 21st century cities and towns. ”
“Working in a minority government, Green Party MPs will implement a Canadian Infrastructure Bank to provide more robust and innovative financing and investment partnerships. This will allow us to build safer bridges, better roads, world-class water treatment facilities, affordable housing, efficient public transportation, and climate adaptation – and put thousands of Canadians to work in the process,” said Claire Martin, Green Party candidate (North Vancouver).
“Federal investments in transit infrastructure simply are not keeping up, particularly in places like Metro Vancouver, where unaffordable housing is pushing people farther away from the urban core,” said Wes Regan, Green Party candidate (East Vancouver). “Investments in sustainable transit pay off economically and will help us meet the needs of an aging population, students, and the millions of other Canadians who rely on public transit.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
kirsten.strom@greenparty.ca