THREAD
1/
@CPC_HQ casually say there’s no $18 Billion cut to infra. “We will spend the same over longer”
Here’s why that is wrong
1) Two words: Social infra. It’s is $22 B of our national plan. For housing subsidies, repairs, child care spaces, Indigenous community renewal.
1/
@CPC_HQ casually say there’s no $18 Billion cut to infra. “We will spend the same over longer”
Here’s why that is wrong
1) Two words: Social infra. It’s is $22 B of our national plan. For housing subsidies, repairs, child care spaces, Indigenous community renewal.
2/
If you spend less per year in the context of social infrastructure, it doesn’t just mean you build stuff later - it means you serve less people per year.
It means potentially a smaller Canada Housing Benefit. Fewer child care spaces. Less ability to repair housing stock.
If you spend less per year in the context of social infrastructure, it doesn’t just mean you build stuff later - it means you serve less people per year.
It means potentially a smaller Canada Housing Benefit. Fewer child care spaces. Less ability to repair housing stock.
3/
Point 2): Construction costs rise. When you build a 🚊 line you need to know your cash flows a decade out. If you now suddenly have less $ per year, you can do less with a rising price of steel.
That’s why @liberal_party 2019 makes transit funding permanent. $3B+ per year.
Point 2): Construction costs rise. When you build a 🚊 line you need to know your cash flows a decade out. If you now suddenly have less $ per year, you can do less with a rising price of steel.
That’s why @liberal_party 2019 makes transit funding permanent. $3B+ per year.
4/
Point 3): We have a major infrastructure deficit in this country.
Leaky sewers, decaying housing, potholes on roads.
Thanks to major investments the last number of years the average age of infra stock has actually *started* to decline.
Reducing spending puts that at risk.
Point 3): We have a major infrastructure deficit in this country.
Leaky sewers, decaying housing, potholes on roads.
Thanks to major investments the last number of years the average age of infra stock has actually *started* to decline.
Reducing spending puts that at risk.
5/
As Kevin Page + other economists have noted - this is absolutely the dumbest area to cut funding.
Taking money out of things that grow our productivity (a long-term, secular problem in Canada) isn’t just a delay in projects.
It’s unrealized economic growth.
That’s dumb.
As Kevin Page + other economists have noted - this is absolutely the dumbest area to cut funding.
Taking money out of things that grow our productivity (a long-term, secular problem in Canada) isn’t just a delay in projects.
It’s unrealized economic growth.
That’s dumb.
6/
Finally, as economists, we need to be clear what we’re talking about.
Behind the numbers lie people. And lives impacted.
The funding profile for the National Housing Strategy made this possible. Those residents deserve a safe & quality 🏠 to live in. cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
Finally, as economists, we need to be clear what we’re talking about.
Behind the numbers lie people. And lives impacted.
The funding profile for the National Housing Strategy made this possible. Those residents deserve a safe & quality 🏠 to live in. cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
7/
One last last point: cutting infrastructure also means fewer, good paying construction jobs.
For a party that preaches being “For the people” this isn’t that.
A clear statement to hundreds of thousands of women & men on the job site - won’t stand up for them.
#ScheerCuts
One last last point: cutting infrastructure also means fewer, good paying construction jobs.
For a party that preaches being “For the people” this isn’t that.
A clear statement to hundreds of thousands of women & men on the job site - won’t stand up for them.
#ScheerCuts
