Today, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced plans to double the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer. If Bill C-25 passes, an additional $2.2 billion will flow to cities and communities, directly, across the country. Canada’s Building Trades Unions welcome today’s announcement which will inject much needed capital into municipal budgets that have been hard hit by the pandemic. This will allow municipalities to focus on building their communities – from recreation facilities to wastewater management – which will help create jobs for Canada’s skilled trades workers as we look towards our economic recovery.
Recognizing, as today’s Auditor General report points out, there have been delays in federal infrastructure spending, we have lobbied the federal government to increase the flow of funds direct to municipalities. The new Community Building Fund will allow municipalities to invest in infrastructure, aid in a post-pandemic recovery and put Canadians to work. Canada’s Building Trades Unions stand ready to supply the skilled trades workforce needed to meet the demand.
