by Kevin Page<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albert Einstein famously said, \u201cin the middle of difficulty lies opportunity\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canadian governments are embarking on a large and complex expansion of public infrastructure spending over the next decade. Serious concerns have been raised about the lack of planning that underpins the expansion. The increase in public infrastructure spending is being deficit financed\u2013\u2013this means future taxpayers will bear the brunt of the cost of this spending. This may be okay if future taxpayers receive important benefits from the new infrastructure\u2013\u2013better transit, better social housing, a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Polling numbers from public opinion research firms indicate that trust in Government remains very low. While we may want to trust the government\u2019s initiative to address infrastructure gaps, we do not have a plan to verify and hold the government accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One initiative by the Ontario government holds some promise to help promote value and trust with respect to the increased spending on public infrastructure\u00ad\u00ad\u2013\u2013it relates to the design and implementation for Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs). The initiative is written in the 2015 Ontario Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act:<\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n (13) Infrastructure planning and investment should promote community benefits, being the supplementary social and economic benefits arising from an infrastructure project that are intended to improve the well-being of a community affected by the project, such as local job creation and training opportunities (including for apprentices), improvement of public space within the community, and any specific benefits identified by the community.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n