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The city will receive $77 million as part of Ontario’s $1.1 billion investment in municipal infrastructure.
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the windfall to a standing ovation from delegates at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s annual conference.
McGuinty said the investment, which will go to improving roads and bridges, public transit, social housing and other municipal projects, will create as many as 11,000 construction jobs in the short term.
Under the Investing in Ontario Act, which sets new parameters for doling out surplus dollars, $600 million will go to reducing the provincial deficit, while the remainder will be paid to municipalities in capital grants.
“We decided that, rather than have the entire surplus go towards the debt—as was required under the old law—we should have a new law that dedicates part of that surplus to a priority of our choosing,” said McGuinty.
“This year, we chose Ontario municipalities—not health care or education, although there’s no shortage of demand there.”
How the money will be allocated in each community is up to municipal officials.
Mayor Larry O’Brien balked at the premier’s suggestion that the bulk of Ottawa’s share be devoted to cleaning the Ottawa River after a massive sewage spill in the summer of 2006 rendered several city beaches unsafe.
“Obviously the Ottawa River is a priority,” said O’Brien. “The federal government has committed $20 million, the municipality has already committed $20 million, and I don’t expect that we would not provide a portion of this $77 million to go into that project.”
O’Brien said the city has “other critical infrastructure needs,” such as the construction of the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge and the widening of Hazeldean Road.
“There may also be an opportunity for us to invest some money into technology infrastructure to reduce operating costs in the future,” he said.
O’Brien said the decision on how to best invest the money ultimately falls to council.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Jim Watson, who was also on hand for the announcement, said he hoped to see investments in Ottawa’s social housing programs.
Watson said it was “unacceptable in the 21st century” to have raw sewage spilling into a major municipal waterway, but added Quebec would have to do its part in keeping the river clean, as well.
“There’s no sense in us cleaning up our side of the river if there’s still a problem on the other side,” said Watson.
“This gives the city flexibility to match and even surpass the federal commitment for water cleanup, and gives them the flexibility to prioritize other projects.”
(C) Ottawa Sun