RE:RE:Recession means increased public works spending Great points I totally agree with all your points.
1 and 2. We need crown publicly owned corporations to manage our infrastructure investments with board/s of directors predominantly from the private sector and stakeholders representatives (chamber of commerce and industry, media, unions, truckers association, employers council, academic,.. and a minority of government's representatives but not as chair of the board). Funding would be directly perceived from the users without transiting by the ministry of finance (and risk be diverted elsewhere such as the gas tax) such as by Hydro One or Hydro-Quebec.
With such as an agency, we are less likely to fund a battery plant as you indicate or those that supported it would be fired because there is accountability ensured by the board.
i actually discussed this with the two prime ministers and while they agree in principle, they justify fund diversion to poor projects as part of the democratic process. Basically,
our elected folks would divert funds intended to pay the rent to go to the movies if this is what the people want.
3. I see no way out for governments except more inflation to reduce the relative value of their debt and at the same time increase the value of privately held assets so they collect more capital gain tax (basically imposing inflation..).. you know my opinion on that.. Unfortunately a tax law in Canada can be constitutional even it is unfair provided it does not violate our charter of rights and freedoms.