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Piecemeal funding programs hinder long-term planningContinued from page 9For example: Markham has plans for a groundbreak-ing, downtown-style community housing30,000 people on 116 acres, but only if aproposed $3 billion Toronto subway exten-sion is built; Halton Region has threatened to stopgrowing unless it gets help with the $8.6 bil-lion in new infrastructure needed in the next20 years; The provinces $11.5 billion transit fundis spent, with no top-up forthcoming fromOttawa and no new fundraising tools in theworks until at least 2013.What municipalities say they need moreSCOTT TRACEY /METROLAND MEDIA WESTReNew Ontariothan anything else is sustainable, predictableCUTTING CORNERS: Road mainte-funding rather than the piecemeal programsThe provinces $30-billion ReNew Ontario fund, created in 2005, was supposed to run for five nance and resurfacing is getting done lessused now.years, but the money was used up by 2009. Tracking exactly where it went is difficult, because often. The Liberal government says it will soonannual reports were published only for 2006 and 2007, and no final report was issued. Here is make public a 10-year infrastructure plan,the information the province was able to provide:but Chiarelli, the infrastructure minister,grappling not only with future needs, but 15 per cent (about $4 billion) went to hospitals and health facilities.provided no details.with their own spending, incurred as part of 22 per cent went to education projects, predominantly the $4 billion Good Places to Learn He told Metroland that funding will be onthe federal-provincial stimulus program.program. It included $2.25 billion to repair crumbling schools.par with the $10 billion-a-year average thatLocal governments had to pay one-third of 40 per cent went to transit and transportation projects, including $700 million for extension Ontario has provided for infrastructure dur-any approved project some of whichof the Spadina Subway from Toronto into Vaughan, one of the largest amounts. Funds also ing the last six years.would not otherwise have proceeded for sev-went to GO Transit, expanding the border crossing at Queenston-Lewiston and improving The federal government, too, has talkederal years forcing them to dip intoHamiltons express bus service. Another large-scale component was the $3.4 billion Southern about secure infrastructure funding andreserves or take on more debt.Ontario Highways Program.planning, promising during the election toThey did the right thing, but there are The remaining 23 per cent is not itemized in detail but includes about $1.4 billion for water extend its Building Canada Fund beyond thegoing to be consequences over time, saidand environment projects, $784 million for justice, just over $3 billion for local/municipal infra-scheduled 2014 expiry.Vanini of the Association of Municipalities of structure and nearly $2.7 billion merely classified as other.Meanwhile, Ontario municipalities areOntario.Act Now!Early Summer DiscountsEnd Soon!Resistant to: Weather Fire Rodents Curl Termites Rot Moss Cracks RustCall Today For a FREE ESTIMATE!289-681-ROOF289-681-7663www.vantageroofi ng.caFinancing as low as $80 a month!www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10