Borrowing Today for the City of Tomorrow? Municipal Debt and Alternative Financing Series

This series is sponsored by KPMG.

Municipal Borrowing in Canada: Is prudence a virtue?

Compared to Canadian provinces and municipalities in some countries, Canadian municipalities borrow relatively little. In an era of economically destabilizing public debt, this conservative approach has clear advantages. But borrowing also serves several beneficial purposes—notably the financing of urgently needed, long-term infrastructure investments. Can and should Canadian municipalities be borrowing more? If so, what measures and financing models should cities adopt to ensure additional borrowing is cost-effective and responsible? This was the first of two panels on this pressing issue.

SPEAKERS

Panelists:
Jason Stewart, Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets and Head of Government Finance, National Bank Financial;
Jennifer Wong, Assistant Vice-President, Sub-Sovereign Group, Moody’s Investors Services; and
Jeff Lehman, Mayor, City of Barrie

Moderator:
David Amborski, Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University, Toronto

VIEW THE PRESENTATIONS