LETTER
Investing in rural communities
“Canada needs to invest to grow.”
William Amos, MP for the
Pontiac Riding, expressed his optimism for rural communities following
the recent Fall Economic Statement by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
The update proposes new commitments of $81.2 billion through to
2027–28 in public transit, green and social infrastructure,
transportation infrastructure that supports trade and rural and northern
communities. In combination with the investments in Budget 2016, the
Fall Economic Statement brings the total in infrastructure
investments to more than $180 billion.
The federal government will also provide an additional $2 billion
over 10 years in rural Canada. Mr Amos sees this as the beginning of a
long-term plan to rebuild the economies and infrastructure of rural
communities. “I have been advocating for the re-establishment of the
Rural Secretariat, which would serve as a horizontal integrator of
policy, program and communications regarding rural matters, across all
federal departments. The $2 billion funding show this government is
committed to Canada’s rural communities and rural development,” stated
Amos.
Highlights
Proposals in the Fall Economic Statement:
· Investing $81 billion in public transit, green and social
infrastructure, transportation infrastructure to bring all Canadians, no
matter where they live, good jobs, a cleaner environment, and thriving
communities.
· Investing up to $2 billion to support rural communities.
Eligibility criteria will be established to recognize the distinct
challenges in these communities and their infrastructure needs, from
expanding roads and Internet connectivity, to upgrading heating systems
and pursuing renewable sources of energy to reduce reliance on diesel.
· Launching the new Canada Infrastructure Bank to provide financing
for infrastructure projects and help more projects get built in Canada.
The Bank will be responsible for investing at least $35 billion from the
federal government into large infrastructure projects through loans,
loan guarantees and equity investments. Part of this amount—$15
billion—will be sourced from funding for public transit, green
infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation, and
rural and northern communities.
· Creating the Invest in Canada Hub, to promote Canada, and work with global companies to increase investment.
· Creating a Global Skills Strategy, supported by improvements to
Canada’s immigration system, to help Canadian and international
companies access the skills they need.
· Strengthening the independence of Statistics Canada and the Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide unbiased
evidence and analysis, and make government more open and transparent.
Said Mr Amos, “It’s good news for all Canadians, including those in
rural Canada. I look forward to working with the Pontiac riding to build
and expand our economy.”
William Amos,
MP for Pontiac