For decades, the mayors of Quebec, municipal organizations, the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) and the Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM) have been asking governments for the financial means to achieve their ambitions.
Posted at 4:00 p.m.
The Quebec government is doing the same at the federal level. Now is the time to recognize that there is a problem and that a permanent solution is needed. We must go to the source of the problem directly related to the sharing of powers and current tax revenues.
Is it still acceptable, as established by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), that for every dollar collected, 50% go to the federal government, 42% to the provincial government and 8% to the municipalities? In the United States, 75% of the revenues of large cities come from taxes that are not derived from the property field.
For years, the Conference Board of Canada, just like TD Bank Financial Group and groups of municipalities argue that the creation of wealth depends on cities. The latter are nothing less than the economic engine of the nation.
It is urgent that the three partners—federal, provincial and municipal—agree on the division of powers and allocate to each, from current tax revenues, the financial resources to carry them out.
The challenges to be met are enormous (climate change, environment, pandemics, health, education, housing, public transport, infrastructure, poverty, homelessness, etc.). They challenge us all, both individually and collectively.
Municipal elected officials and prime ministers now speaking with one voice must understand that half-measures, the allocation of inadequate resources, short-lived fiscal pacts and inaction that perpetuate the status quo are precursors to ruptures, revolts and of tragedies.