March 27, 2008

Leona speaks with the media: “Our budget takes a balanced and responsible approach to strengthening Ontario’s future.”

Dombrowsky announces local infrastructure investments

BELLEVILLE —The McGuinty government will invest more than $12.76 million for repairs to roads and bridges across Prince Edward-Hastings, Leona Dombrowsky MPP said today.

“Our government’s plan is working for rural Ontario,” said Dombrowsky. “By investing in transportation infrastructure that families and businesses depend upon we are building opportunity, strengthening the local economy and creating jobs.”

Today’s announcement is part of a $400 million investment by the McGuinty government in roads and bridges in municipalities outside Toronto, based on their share of Ontario’s road network in relation to population.

Other initiatives in the 2008 Ontario budget to grow a stronger economy include:

• $27 million over three years for a Distance Grant to assist students from rural and remote areas with travel costs to attend college or university
• $80 million over four years for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund
• $53 million over the next three years to add 50 more Family Health Teams by 2011-12, targeting rural and underserviced communities
• $56 million over four years for the Pick Ontario Freshness Strategy and the Ontario Farmers’ Market Initiative, which will help encourage Ontarians to buy locally
• $30 million over four years to enhance broadband access in rural areas in southern Ontario

“Our budget takes a balanced and responsible approach to strengthening Ontario’s future,” said Dombrowsky. “It is a plan that builds opportunity by investing in our people and the strength of our economy, to ensure that Ontario continues to move forward.”

Today’s announcement builds on the province’s investment of $450 million in 2007-2008 for the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative.  This funding is also in addition to the proposed bill, the Investing in Ontario Act, which would direct a portion of provincial surpluses in excess of $800 million to municipalities for capital needs.

The chart below shows the distribution of $12.761 million the McGuinty government is immediately investing in roads and bridges in municipalities across Prince Edward-Hastings, based on their share of Ontario’s road network in relation to population.