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Long-to-do list, but not enough cash to cover itContinued from page 8There are really harsh, stark The balance of Ontarios infrastructure isrealities coming soon.now of an age where it needs replacement orrepair. About 60 per cent of buildings, roads,Pat Vanini, executive director,water and other systems are more than 50Association of Municipalities of Ontarioyears old. Almost a third of the provincesinfrastructure is more than 90 years old.Guelph is a good example of what thatmeans. About 40 per cent of the citys $1.3year. Youre taking out loans, using your linebillion worth of infrastructure is at the endof credit and maxing out credit cards to payof its life cycle now.for what you know you need.Almost every community has a CentennialThats the situation most municipalitiesbuilding of some kind, a library or an arena,find themselves in today.built in a massive construction boom duringBut its about to get worse, because theCanadas 1967 celebrations. About 2,500population of the Greater Golden Horseshoesuch buildings are now in need of but notalone is growing from 8 million just fivePETER LEE / METROLAND MEDIA WESTfunded for repairs.years ago to 11.5 million by 2031. ThatThere are really harsh, stark realitiesCOMMON PROBLEM :Potholes often remain unfilled as communities struggle to find money means youre probably going to have to addcoming soon, said Pat Vanini, executivefor infrastructure.an extra floor to the house on top of every-director of the Association of Municipalitiesthing else.of Ontario.Recent Infrastructure SpendingThe fast-growing population will requireIf Ontario was your house, it would be onlarger public buildings, better public transit Province-wide spending on 1,400 municipal projects from all three levels of government the verge of falling apart.and new schools. The provinces Places tototalled about $3.4 billion over the last two years.The roof needs reshingling, the electricalGrow plan sets ambitious population targets This included the $1.85 billion (split between Ontario and Ottawa) doled out in Ontario system no longer meets standards and thefor the regions municipalities and guide-through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF). Other investments included $408 million furnace is on its last legs. Forget about thelines on constructing efficient, compactthrough the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund and the Recreational fact the bathroom hasnt been redone sincecommunities.Infrastructure Canada (RINC) fund that allowed for $500 million of renovations at hockey the 1970s and that youd like to replace theBut there is no corresponding offer by thearenas and other recreational facilities across the country.previous owners shag carpeting with hard-province, or Ottawa, to help specifically with To qualify for the ISF, projects had to be hard infrastructure (roads, pipes, water treatment wood.the costs of everything all those new resi-facilities etc.) and be shovel ready. Though the fund was not finalized until mid-2009, proj-Youre more concerned about makingdents will need.ects were supposed to be complete by March 2011, a deadline that has since been extended mortgage payments, but you cant be sureto October.there will still be paycheques coming nextSee Piecemeal page 109 Wednesday, June 22, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com