County gets $2,733,644 of $13.1 million in infrastructure funding
Administrator | Sep 25, 2016 | Comments 9
Todd Smith
Good news will be coming to Prince Edward Hastings municipalities in the coming months as the provincial government releases Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund announcements.
The 16 municipalities in the region, plus Hastings County, will receiving in excess of $13.5 million between the 2016 and 2019 fiscal years.
Prince Edward County’s tally amounts to $2,733,664 over the next three years.
“In the five years I’ve been an MPP, the biggest issue from municipalities in my riding has been the lack of predictable infrastructure funding from the upper levels of government,” said Todd Smith, MPP. “With the release of this information, we know that the 16 municipalities in our area, including the County of Hastings, will be receiving over $13.5 million until 2019 to help meet infrastructure needs.”
The funding formula to decide how much each municipality receives will be determined on a variety of factors including core infrastructure, median income, and property assignment.
Smith noted that accounts for the disparity in amounts between municipalities that may have similar population sizes.
“However, many large projects will remain on the front burner at Queen’s Park,” he said. “Obviously, we have a number of infrastructure needs in the area including Highway 49 which was just named the worst road in Ontario by CAA.” Smith stated. “But Highway 62 north of Maynooth and the Stirling-Marmora Road remain major local concerns and I’ve already submitted the questions to the minister this fall about those projects, specifically.”
Smith said he’ll continue lobbying the government about projects that local municipalities raise as needing special attention.
“There are a bunch of projects that I want to see done that will make the Quinte region a better place to live and work,” Smith concluded. “And I’m going to try and get money for every last one of them.”
Filed Under: Local News
To Chris Keen –
Believe it or not since 2003 the Liberals have tried to undo much of the damage. Now remember, I have also stated several times that I am not a fan of Wynne or the Green Energy Act – but those two factors do not make up all of Ontario’s problems or successes. There are other factors just as important as IWTs – the Libs. have placed more money into schools and education, healthcare and social services. The economy was on the way down well before they ever took power. According to our local press and a series of town councils since 1998 – the number one problem we have in the county is the fall-out that amalgamation has left us in. These same people still claim that is still the problem today. So yes Chris, the Tories and Todd still have a lot to answer for. But let’s at least be thankful that we got some money coming our way from Queen’s Park, but don’t be so foolish as to think that Todd Smith had anything to do with it.
Harris and Eves are ancient history! Subsequent (Liberal) governments could have undone or modified elements of the “Common Sense Revolution” and have chosen not to. This speaks volumes in my opinion.
While i too am upset with many aspects of the current government’s Green Energy Acte.g. industrial wind turbines and the rising costs of electrical power Dennis Fox is absolutely right in what he says about Todd’s party’s actions when it was in power under Harris and Eves. The damage they did to the province by their so-called “Common Sense” policies has come home to roost in a most painful way for Ontarians. Amazing what short memories folks have. No matter what party is in power we rural folk have to keep reminding them that we matter just as much as the urban folks in Ontario’s cities.
@hockeynan
It’s because he roars in parliament, that we did.
@Dennis Fox
Look at the rate increases. Most of what you’re paying now has been tacked on since 2010. There are a lot of things you can blame on the privatization of Hydro, but the cost of the current electricity system isn’t one of them.
“[P]rovincial government releases Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund” should read “Taxpayer dollars come home to roost”. This is no gift.
The way Smith roars in Parliament I am surprised we got a cent
Come on Dennis, the Conservatives did put beer on golf courses!
Well the money is sure needed – let’s hope it is put to good use. While I am certainly no fan of our current provincial government -mainly due to the Green Energy Act, I am pleased to see them supporting municipalities. What Todd Smith needs to remember is that he is a representative of a party that when in power amalgamated municipalities, cut municipal funding, closed hospitals, closed schools and fired a ton of people in the different ministries and public services – which resulted in such disasters as the Walkerton Water Disaster. Oh and lets not forget the selling of Ontario Hydro and the fallout that has followed since. In comparison, maybe we aren’t so badly off as some would like us to believe.
$2.7 mill. will probably pay for the design and engineering for County Rd 49. Good start.