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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Municipal summit searches for new growth funding By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER There's no money on the table -- yet. Three months ago, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr made a public threat to shut down development in north Oakville and Milton unless someone stepped for- ward with cash to help the Region fund billions of dollars of needed infrastructure. Despite a July deadline for a funding commitment, no money has yet materialized. As well, an Ontario government review of municipal services and funding appears to have bogged down, diminishing the hope that the Region will soon be relieved of some of the burden of social services costs. Last week, as municipal leaders from across the area gathered in Burlington for a "Building Complete Communities" summit, it became clear that Halton isn't the only one facing an infrastructure crisis. During a wrap-up session Friday afternoon, York's Regional Chair Bill Fisch noted that municipalities simply aren't getting a fair funding shake. Municipalities receive eight cents of every tax dollar collected in Canada. Provincial governments get 42 cents, while the federal government retains 52 cents. Municipal organizations like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) have described the funding structure as unsustainable, particularly in light of infrastructure needs and increasing responsibilities taken on in recent decades. "There's absolutely no way we can do this, and we're fooling ourselves if we say we can, unless there's some funding changes for municipalities," Fisch said. Carr has taken the same position, noting that the Region sim See Region page 12 OPEN HOUSE! LOCATION IN OAKVILLE! 361 CORNWALL ROAD (corner of Trafalgar & Cornwall, Behind Shoppers) Saturday, June 14th 10am ­ 6pm PIZZA, POP & GOODIES FREE LOT'S OF PRIZES! A MOUNTAIN BIKE WIN WIN 10-50% OFF EVERYTHING! WIN FREE PET FOOD FOR A YEAR SERVING OAKVILLE SINCE 1996 · 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER 1500 Upper Middle Rd. West & Third Line 361 Cornwall Road (Behind the Shoppers Drugmart in the Whole Foods Plaza) 905-847-3299 *Grooming available at the Upper Middle Store Only. 905-815-0320 Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY Notice of Study Commencement and Public Information Centre #1 Kerr Street at CNR Grade Separation Wednesday, June 18, 2008 ­ 5 ­ 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Trafalgar Room The Town of Oakville is initiating a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study for the proposed grade separation at the Kerr Street and CNR Oakville Subdivision crossing between Speers Road and the QEW. The study is being undertaken in accordance with Schedule `C' of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process, which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. McCormick Rankin Corporation has been retained to assist with the study. The daily traffic volume on Kerr Street north of Speers Road combined with the amount of train movements on the CNR Oakville Subdivision rail line impacts the operation of the roadway and warrants a grade separation. Furthermore, the Oakville Transportation Master Plan (2007) also recommends that Kerr Street be reconstructed as a four lane roadway between Shepherd Road and Wyecroft Road, and be grade separated with the CNR rail crossing to address long term traffic demands and associated operational issues on the roadway. A Public Information Centre (PIC) has been scheduled to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to review the transportation need and justification for the grade separation and other improvements, and an assessment of alternative solutions. Public comments obtained at the PIC will be incorporated into the next phase of the study. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions and display materials will be available for viewing. A presentation will take place at 6 p.m. with discussion to follow. If you have any questions or are unable to attend the Public Information Centre and wish to provide comments or be added to the study mailing list, please contact: David Wong, P.Eng, Traffic Engineer, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6. Phone: 905-845-6601 ext. 3307. Fax: 905-338-4159 or dwong@oakville.ca Martin Scott, P.Eng, Project Manager, McCormick Rankin Corporation, 2655 North Sheridan Way, Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2P8. Phone: 905-823-8500. Fax: 905-823-8503 or mwscott@mrc.ca