ABmunis Responds to GoC Budget 2025
The Government of Canada’s 493-page Budget 2025 is a complex plan that will require time to sift through and analyze.
However, Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) has identified the Build Communities Strong Fund (previously known as the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund) as one area of initial concern. The federal government has allocated $17.2 billion over 10 years for housing-enabling infrastructure such as roads, wastewater, and educational facilities. While investment is needed, this funding has strings attached, including the requirement for matching funds from the provincial government and the demand that municipalities lower their development fees (also called offsite levies).
ABmunis feels these requirements fail to meet the needs of ABmunis’ member-municipalities and erode municipal autonomy. Alberta already has some of the fastest development in the country and has some of the lowest development fees. A focus on lowering fees might put at risk the funding municipalities in Alberta need to enable the development of the infrastructure required to keep pace with housing growth. We voice our members’ belief that those benefiting from land development should also be contributing to the costs incurred.
ABmunis looks forward to working with the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to explain our members’ needs and their expectation that they receive a fair share of federal funds.
Please keep watching ABmunis’ The Weekly for a more thorough analysis of Budget 2025.
