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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty wants the City of Ottawa to use $77.2 million in new provincial funding to help clear up the city’s sewage mess, but Mayor Larry O’Brien says the sewer issues need to compete with other priorities, like roads.
Mr. McGuinty came to the annual convention of Ontario’s municipalities bearing gifts yesterday morning: $1.1 billion in provincewide funding for roads, transit and bridges, or any other capital priorities mayors and councils choose.
The new money comes from the province’s $1.7-billion surplus for the last fiscal year. Of that surplus, $600 million is going to pay down debt and the rest goes to the municipalities, which are holding their annual convention at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the province’s infrastructure funding yesterday, suggesting Ottawa should use its $77.2-million share to fix its sewage problems.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the province’s infrastructure funding yesterday, suggesting Ottawa should use its $77.2-million share to fix its sewage problems.
The premier, who represents Ottawa South, made it clear to reporters after his speech that he wants the provincial money headed Ottawa’s way to be used to improve the sewer system.
The city has been shocked this summer by news of spills and overflows of raw sewage into the Ottawa River, including a huge sewage spill in 2006 that was not reported to city council or the Ontario government.
Mr. McGuinty said the money to municipalities has no strings attached, but he said the sewage problem is an obvious priority.
“Here in Ottawa, one of the most pressing issues for us is what are we going to do to assume our responsibility to protect our river? We’ve got raw sewage running into our river. That’s not acceptable. I say that as an Ottawan and as a parent,” Mr. McGuinty said. “Here’s $77 million. My hope is that Mayor O’Brien and his council will give some serious thought to using that for investing in water and sewer infrastructure.”
Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson, who represents Ottawa West-Nepean, said that with the $77.2 million, the city will be able to surpass the commitments already made by the federal government and city council to spend $20 million each on engineering fixes to reduce or stop the pollution.
“Having raw sewage flow into the Ottawa River is not acceptable in the 21st century,” Mr. Watson said. But he said the province won’t “micromanage” the money for the city and he hopes other priorities, such as housing, also get some support.
Mr. O’Brien welcomed the funding announcement, saying he was “very impressed” with the provincial government’s move. But he said the sewers issue will have to compete with other projects for claim to the funds.
Mr. O’Brien said Hazeldean Road in Kanata needs to be widened, Hunt Club Road needs to be extended and a bridge across the Rideau River needs to be built at Strandherd Road. He also hopes to see money spent on technology to lower the city’s operating costs.
“These are critical infrastructure needs,” the mayor said. When pressed about how much would go to cleaning up the river, Mr. O’Brien said, “a portion.” He noted that city council will decide how the funds are spent.
As the premier left the press conference, Mr. O’Brien shook his hand and said, “The river will be part of it.”
The mayor told reporters that separating Ottawa’s storm and sanitary sewers is a long-term project that could cost $600 million. When downtown’s older sewers get overloaded with rainwater, they vent rain and sewage directly into the river. Newer neighbourhoods, built with separate sewers, don’t have this problem.
Ottawa’s Councillor Peter Hume, the incoming president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, said the funding announcement is great news for the province’s municipalities. He said cities such as Ottawa, which have used past provincial money to shore up operating budgets, should resist any such urge.
“It’s one-time money. Spend it wisely. Don’t spend it on snow removal,” Mr. Hume said.
The premier’s announcement prompted a warm round of applause from the 1,800 delegates at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
The premier cautioned, however, that this year’s tough economy won’t allow such spending next year and that the transfer of some social-program costs from municipalities to the provincial government will be delayed.
Mr. McGuinty urged municipal leaders to pressure the federal parties in the upcoming federal election to support Ontario residents, who receive less unemployment insurance and other federal assistance than residents in other provinces. The premier told reporters he will write letters to all three major federal party leaders seeking their detailed positions on the issue.
These are some multimillion-dollar projects the city is already paying for, or contributing to:
(C) Ottawa Citizen