Municipalities concerned about deficit fighting

The president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Basil Stewart, issued a statement in support of the federal government’s Budget. 
However,  Stewart warned that governments must not slip back into the situation in the 1990s when deficit fighting caused the federal and provincial governments to offload costs and cut services.
Stewart – who is also mayor of Summerside, P.E.I., said: “FCM applauds the federal government for protecting core investments in cities and communities as it reduces the federal budget deficit. These investments will help local governments – and Canadian property tax payers – build the infrastructure that is the backbone of our economy and quality of life….
“Canadians can´t afford to relive the 1990s deficit-fight, when federal and provincial budget deficits were shifted on to their property tax bills, or paid for with cuts to local services. Today´s budget protects Canadians by protecting their communities.
“The Economic Action Plan proves that governments must work together to meet national challenges. As stimulus spending winds down, we must put this partnership to work tackling the longer-term problems playing out in our communities, from street gangs to homelessness to climate change.”