VANCOUVER 鈥� Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau called on progressive cities to help form the party鈥檚 next agenda during remarks at the annual convention of 91原创 municipalities.
His speech Sunday followed the release of a Federation of 91原创 Municipalities report criticizing how the federal government interacts with cities, which are under provincial jurisdiction.
Ottawa has too often had 鈥渕inimal response鈥� to challenges facing cities, such as transportation, waste management and aging infrastructure, Trudeau told the crowd. More than 2,000 city officials were expected to attend the four-day conference at Canada Place.
鈥淚 hope each and every one of you will take this as an open invitation, whatever your political affiliation, to help shape our platform for 2015 and for the future of this great country,鈥� Trudeau said.
The vast majority of 91原创s now live in urban areas. But cities receive only eight cents of every tax dollar, Trudeau said, while the federal government pockets 50 cents and the province gets the remaining 42.
鈥淗ow do we ensure 91原创s all have access to affordable housing?鈥� Trudeau asked. 鈥淗ow do we make our communities, from the smallest outpost to the biggest city, the safest in the world? How can we ensure 91原创s in our most rural communities can build strong futures for their families so their kids don鈥檛 have to leave?
鈥淗ow do we ensure all levels of government have the revenue, and the revenue sources we need, to fulfil our responsibilities to 91原创s?鈥�
He said he believes the recent scandals in Ottawa and economic insecurity are adding to a sense of anxiety among 91原创s that prevents them from addressing complex issues in society.
鈥淔or me, the biggest problem is that middle class 91原创s have not had a decent raise in a generation,鈥� said Trudeau, the eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Over the past 30 years, the 91原创 economy has more than doubled in size ... but middle-class incomes, median family income, has risen only 13 per cent. Because of that, anxiety is growing. Middle-class 91原创s are worried that progress, that core 91原创 ideal, is under [a] very real threat.鈥�
Outgoing federation president Karen Leibovici said governments need to 鈥減ut aside whatever the constitutional issues might be鈥� and work together to 鈥渆nsure we鈥檙e providing the services that our citizens are looking for, that 91原创s are looking for, as well as ensure we鈥檙e competitive on the global stage.鈥�
It was encouraging to hear Trudeau discuss making improvements to the federal-municipal relationship, said Vision 91原创 city councillor Raymond Louie.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have Mr. Trudeau in our camp,鈥� Louie said. 鈥淗e believes he鈥檚 part of that solution, that formula to remake the outdated intergovernmental arrangements that have been a barrier to making important decisions,鈥� he said, pointing to upgrades for 91原创鈥檚 waste water infrastructure and transportation grid as spending requiring federal investment.
In a speech that had federal implications as well as municipal ones, Trudeau also sent up the Senate.
鈥淣obody, including myself, who has watched the goings-on in the Senate over the past year could possibly support the status quo,鈥� said Trudeau, who said he wants to see Senate reform without reopening the Constitution.
Last week, Trudeau created controversy when he was quoted as saying the current Senate composition is an advantage to Quebec, which has 24 senators, over Alberta, which has six.
After his talk, Trudeau also applauded the B.C. government鈥檚 decision to reject the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, saying the economic and environmental costs were too high.
