Provincial funding for Halton infrastructure

Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr commended the McGuinty government’s announcement that it is investing an additional $1.1 billion in municipal infrastructure to improve roads and bridges, expand public transit and build other municipal projects.

“This is a good sign,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “I am anxious to see specifically what it means for Halton. Hopefully, we will now be able to work with the province to choose and implement infrastructure projects vital to Halton’s future growth and prosperity.”

The increase in infrastructure funding comes as a result of the government passing the Investing in Ontario Act, 2008. The Act allows the Provincial government to use a portion of any unanticipated year-end budget surplus to address priority public needs as well as reduce the province’s accumulated deficit.

The funding is shared among all Ontario municipalities, primarily on a per capita basis based on their 2006 census population. Both levels of municipal government (regions and cities/towns) share in the allocation. Halton Region has been allocated $22,077,181. The four municipalities that form Halton Region have been allocated funding as follows:

• Burlington: $7,380,241
• Halton Hills: $2,481,806
• Milton: $2,421,207
• Oakville: $7,434,016

According to Chair Carr, the announcement shows that the province is listening to calls for collaboration and has heard the messages articulated in the Fairness for Halton Campaign and at a recent summit. Politicians and senior municipal, provincial and federal staff from the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton gathered at a June 6th Summit to find solutions to address the financial costs of growth for municipal infrastructure and social service needs.

Yesterday’s announcement follows on the heels of a Federal infrastructure plan announced July 24th. That Framework Agreement, signed by the Federal and Provincial governments, promises to invest $6.2 billion into Ontario infrastructure projects over seven years.

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