$10 million from province for Holland Marsh drainage
By Bill Rea

Mayor Margaret Black has been all smiles since last week.

The province announced it will be putting up $10.2 million for the reconstruction of the Holland Marsh Drainage System canals.

The funding was announced late last week, and the mayor made the announcement at the opening of Monday's Township council meeting.

"It is definitely a good-news night," she declared.

The money is coming from the province's Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII), which is seeing $450 million being distributed in one-time grants throughout Ontario.

A statement issued Monday by the Township said there were 462 applications for grants received by the province, totalling more than $1 billion.

Work on the drainage system is a joint project between King and the Town of Bradford - West Gwillimbury, and the two municipalities set up a joint municipal services board last year.

King will be getting $6.625 million, while Bradford - West Gwillimbury will receive the other $3.575 million.

The statement from the Township pointed out about 60 per cent of the marsh is in King.

"This is a very substantial thing for King," Black declared, adding efforts to get this work done have been going on since before she became mayor. She stressed this work is needed, pointing out the canals have been very high, especially with all the snow this winter. Possible flooding of the marsh has been a concern. Black also observed there have been cases of cars running off the local roads and into the canal, resulting in fatalities.

Black also praised the work of municipal staff over the years, as well as the members of past councils. She also said she and Bradford - West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White had meetings earlier this year with four provincial ministers, and that evidently helped. She added Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek was on hand for those meetings. "We believe she had quite an influence," Black remarked.

The drainage system was built in the 1920s, and was seriously damaged by Hurricane Hazel in 1954. That resulted in emergency repairs and the present dike configuration, with roads on top.

The plan is to have the canals substantially rebuilt, with berms between them and the roads, and improved flood protection.