PolitiKit

Engaging with government on policy related to housing and housing affordability

Engaging with government on policy related to housing and infrastructure.

MODERNIZE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: The federal government’s procurement strategy is outdated, leaving little room for creative solutions and fair risk sharing. Contactors shouldering the majority of project risk is becoming an untenable model for many smaller companies who already navigate a long list of red tape and challenges. The reluctance to bid on federal projects because of this heightened risk is becoming a real issue and is impacting progress on public projects. With productivity issues on the rise, now is the time to modernize procurement practices. Innovative procurement and delivery methods can improve productivity, enable cost savings, and shorten the timeline for construction projects. To build the infrastructure needed across the country, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models, and support shared risk.

BUILD THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE: The federal government has an ambitious growth plan – one that includes repairing, maintaining and retrofitting aging infrastructure while also building for future climate resilience. Construction now employs more people than ever before, yet our industry will need to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs in the next decade brought on by shifting demographics and a spate of retirements. The situation is even more acute as the construction sector is already dealing with decades of chronic challenges in recruiting qualified workers. Our industry is struggling to fill indispensable jobs nationwide that are essential to build the infrastructure needed to support Canada’s future growth. To achieve Canada’s infrastructure goals, the construction industry requires an equal partner in government to grow the labour force.

GST treatment on affordable homeownership housing

National Housing Co-Investment Fund/Affordable Housing Fund

Federal infrastructure program funding, including (but not limited to) Infrastructure Canada Canada Community Building Fund; Infrastructure programs and funding; Permanent Public Transit Fund; Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing; Investing in Canada infrastructure Plan; Universal Broadband; Rural, remote and northern infrastructure;

Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements Revenue sharing with the federal and provincial governments: Federal policies and programs with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) system, intergovernmental partnerships, recognition of municipal governments contributions to economic growth, the fiscal imbalance between each order of governments revenues options and their responsibilities to provide services and programs to Canadians. Municipal Growth Framework.

Federal infrastructure program funding, including (but not limited to) Infrastructure Canada Canada Community Building Fund; Infrastructure programs and funding; Permanent Public Transit Fund; Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing; Investing in Canada infrastructure Plan; Universal Broadband; Rural, remote and northern infrastructure;

Federal infrastructure program funding, including (but not limited to) Infrastructure Canada Canada Community Building Fund; Infrastructure programs and funding; Permanent Public Transit Fund; Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing; Investing in Canada infrastructure Plan; Universal Broadband; Rural, remote and northern infrastructure;

Rural, remote and northern municipal issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to delivering infrastructure funding in rural, remote and northern communities, trade irritants effecting rural, remote and northern communities, the development and implementation of the northern strategy in the three territories and the development of a rural champion at the federal cabinet level.

Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements Revenue sharing with the federal and provincial governments: Federal policies and programs with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) system, intergovernmental partnerships, recognition of municipal governments contributions to economic growth, the fiscal imbalance between each order of governments revenues options and their responsibilities to provide services and programs to Canadians. Municipal Growth Framework.

Rural, remote and northern municipal issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to delivering infrastructure funding in rural, remote and northern communities, trade irritants effecting rural, remote and northern communities, the development and implementation of the northern strategy in the three territories and the development of a rural champion at the federal cabinet level.

Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements Revenue sharing with the federal and provincial governments: Federal policies and programs with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) system, intergovernmental partnerships, recognition of municipal governments contributions to economic growth, the fiscal imbalance between each order of governments revenues options and their responsibilities to provide services and programs to Canadians. Municipal Growth Framework.

Disability Tax Credit with respect to making it refundable and ensuring eligibility for Canadians with episodic disabilities

Municipal transfers and municipal funding model - exploring new funding mechanisms for municipalities beyond gas tax transfers and program-specific conditional programs. Creation of a new dedicated federal transfer for municipal core infrastructure - to provide discretionary funding to municipalities for water and wastewater projects. Presumably housed at Housing, Communities and Infrastructure Canada.

Equip police departments to counter hate crimes and support targeted communities by providing additional resources to bolster existing police hate crime and community liaison units. Where such units do not exist, funding should be provided to establish them.

Establish a security rebate program for places of worship, schools and community centres. Institutions that pay for security personnel (such as guards from licensed companies or paid duty police officers) could submit those receipts with their annual filing to Canada Revenue Agency and be reimbursed for a portion of the total cost.

The unique conditions of Northern and remote communities greatly affect how municipal infrastructure is built and maintained. Northern communities have unique realities that need to be addressed in program design through flexibility in how funding is disbursed and how programs are applied to Northern communities. For example, construction seasons in the North are much shorter than southern municipalities.

Seek opportunities and engagement on the development of the Major Projects Office. Additionally, ensure Metis business in British Columbia are included in the procurement opportunities that flow from Major Projects initiated in British Columbia.