Helping Municipalities Build Stronger Communities

February 03, 2009

Ottawa- MP Brown is pleased to report that this Government has acted on local input provided during the recent budget consultations.  Brown met with Minister Flaherty in late January and presented to him local council member Michael Prowse’s proposal to include low cost infrastructure financing to Municipalities in the federal budget.

The federal Government recognizes that much of the responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure of Canadian communities rests with municipalities. In recognition of this important responsibility and to address the challenges municipal governments are facing in garnering capital funding for planned "ready to go" projects during an economic slowdown, Budget 2009 makes available up to $2 billion over two years in direct, low-cost loans to municipalities through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

“These low-cost loans will significantly decrease the cost of borrowing for municipalities, and can be used by them to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming” said MP Brown. 

“I am very excited that low interest Municipal loans made it into the budget” said Councillor Prowse “I really appreciate Patrick's assistance in bringing that "made in Barrie" recommendation to the attention of Minister Flaherty as part of the pre-budget consultations.”

“Infrastructure funding represents a good investment for Barrie and for Canada.  This type of program can save Barrie taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in interest alone” added Prowse. “I look forward to the benefit that this program will bring to the City of Barrie and I thank Patrick for the part he played.”