Good things expected from province's plans for infrastructure funding
Black hoping for $1.6 million
By Bill Rea

It looks like Queen's Park is getting ready to pump an additional $1 billion into strengthening municipal infrastructure, and Mayor Margaret Black is delighted with the news.

She brought the matter up at Thursday's council session to discuss the latest proposals for King's 2008 budget, as she announced a windfall might soon be coming from the province.

She said she had been at Queen's Park earlier in the day, and got the word from David Caplan, minister of public infrastructure renewal, that the allocation of these funds to municipalities would be based on population. Doing some quick math, Black figured King could be seeing about $1.6 million.

"I heard it from Minister Caplan today, straight," she declared after the meeting. "I would really like to see it go to roads."

But councillor Jack Rupke warned about getting too excited.

"I'd say you don't count on it until it's in the bank; our bank," he remarked.

In making the announcement, Premier Dalton McGuinty stated that in addition to improving infrastructure, this investment should also create about 10,000 jobs during construction.

"We can't have a strong economy in Ontario without improving infrastructure like public transit, roads and bridges, and affordable housing," Mcguinty stated. "But that's not the end, just the means to an end: a caring, compassionate society for our families."

The announcement also came as good news for the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA).

"Dollars invested in our bridges, roads, water systems and transit is guaranteed to strengthen our communities and sustain our economy," commented OGRA President David Leckie. "I am looking forward to the provincial budget release and to further learn how this investment will fortify municipalities."