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OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced $1.1-billion for new infrastructure Monday morning at a gathering of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.
The Premier said the announcement is the result of the new Investing in Ontario Act that allows the province to spend surplus funds rather than devote all extra cash to the province’s debt.
“Just as the big boost to infrastructure I’ve announced today reflects last year’s strong economic performance, the economic challenges we’re facing this year mean I can safely predict I won’t make this kind of announcement twelve months from now,” said Mr. McGuinty.
The premier predicted the money would create up to 11,000 construction jobs in the short term.
The premier also urged municipalities to inject themselves into the upcoming federal election campaign.
“Ontarians deserve to know where all federal parties stand on fairness for Ontario,” he said.
Mr. McGuinty later told reporters he would be sending each federal party leader a letter. In it, he will be asking them to put in writing how they intend to respond to Ontario’s call for an easing of the province’s equalization tab.
The premier said the answers will help Ontarians decide who to vote for, though he has already made up his mind.
“I’ll be voting for my brother or I’ll be kicked out of the family by my mother,” he said, in reference to his brother David, who represents the same Ottawa riding for the federal Liberal party “That’s not a secret.”
Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien said he was “very impressed” with the announcement and said some of the money will likely go toward plans for cleaning up the Ottawa river.
Mr. O’Brien’s term has been sidetracked by allegations, which he denies, that he offered to use his political connections to federal Conservatives to secure a job for one of his challengers in the last mayoral race in exchange for dropping out.
Mr. O’Brien said yesterday that mayors are likely to remain non-partisan should there be a federal election.
“The one thing that we learn very early in municipal politics is to leave your party stripes at the backdoor,” he said. “We’ll have to work with all our partners.”
(C) Globe and Mail