The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Unclear who would pay for infrastructure costs 11 · Wednesday, December 9, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 1 Halton residents to use public transit for 20 per cent of all trips they make in rush hours by 2031, rather than the four per cent that happens now. "I think what we're trying to do at the Region is just to make sure we've got a partnership with the Province," said Halton Hills Regional Councillor Jane Fogal, who said her community of Georgetown is looking at relatively major growth through ROPA 38, but is in need of allday, two-way GO Train service. "If we go through with the intensification (of our communities) and they don't step up with the transit, we're in a big mess." ROPA 38's definition of infrastructure also includes hospitals -- both Milton and Burlington are angling for expansions to their local hospitals, while Oakville's new hospital is estimated to cost $1.5 billion dollars -- and schools, which would have to be in place to meet the influx of new residents rather than built long after they arrive, Adams added. Where exactly money for all GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH. SHOW YOU CARE. We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. this will come from hasn't been worked out, however. ROPA 38 states the Region will "seek funding assistance" from the federal and provincial governments and require the development industry to absorb its share of the cost. However, both Fogal and Adams admit these are different economic times than 2007, when the Fairness for Halton campaign demanded a share of what it said would be the federal government's $65 billion surplus by 2013. The Conservative government is now projecting a cumulative deficit of $164.4 billion by 2015. Halton's CAO Pat Moyle predicted recently the Province probably doesn't have the capacity to upload any more responsibilities from municipalities. In recent years, the Province has assisted municipalities by phasing in the uploading of welfare and disability costs and phasing out the requirement for 905 municipalities to contribute to the social assistance network provided in Toronto. The federal government has doubled the amount of gas tax dollars it sends to Canadian municipalities, and the Province is also sending increased gas taxes to support local transit systems. Both governments have also committed large amounts of stimulus dollars to fix up municipal infrastructure over the next year or so ­ about $330 million committed to projects across the region. Of the Region's proposed $1.1 billion 2010 budget, it expects to receive $123.6 million from the Province and $12.5 million from the federal government in regular grants. That doesn't include the $147 million to the Region the two governments have committed in one-time stimulus dollars for three major infrastructure projects in 2010 and 2011. "We are in different economic times and everybody is going into debt," says Fogal. "They can't give us what they don't have." If governments don't step up with the money, that leaves developers with the tab if they want to keep building, said Adams. Fogal is more sympathetic to homebuilders. "They're not going to want to sit around while we figure out the funding," she admits. "But the truth is the funding has to be figured out. This is a point in time when the Region can make that point." The situation hasn't escaped the attention of the residential development industry, a group that just recently agreed to provide a possibly recoverable, but with no interest, $8,000 extra per home to Halton Region. The majority of that money is being used to cover the cost of development charge exemptions the Province and the Region give to other sectors, such as industry, schools, places of worship and farms. In a Nov. 12 letter to Regional staff, the lawyer for Mattamy Homes, Townsend and Associates, expresses concern the ROPA 38 policies may be used "as a tool to delay or interrupt development" -- something Halton staff said in their response they have no intention of doing. The letter also notes the Province's Growth Plan for the Golden Horseshoe, to which ROPA 38 must conform, has set out a schedule that outlines what Halton's population will be in 2031 -- 780,000, or 85 per cent more than today -- and the Region doesn't have the option to "opt out" of that for financial reasons. "Municipalities are obliged to `plan' for the targets, not `deliver' them," staff responded. "It is a new planning regime and all parties and stakeholders have to work together to achieve the common good," Halton's response continued. "If the Province and the (school) boards support the Growth Plan and the concept of complete communities, they have to change their approach and start planning for the long term." Children's Dental Care From cleaning and fillings to braces and more... We provide a warm and caring environment Call your family dentist Dr. Shady Saleh today! · Evening and Saturday Appointments · Direct Billing To Your Insurance Company 905-847-3201 Appleby Mall An annual membership to the Y gives the gift of well-being and fun! Let someone de-stress and rejuvenate by enjoying a variety of programs, sports and classes. Whatever their age or fitness level, people feel comfortable at the Y. Your gift is a reason for someone to get out, get active and get happy. Give the gift that keeps giving all year long. 905-845-3417 410 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca OB091209 Bring this ad to the YMCA of Oakville and get a FREE Swim or Adult Work Out Pass. Offer expires Dec. 23, 2009. Limited to ONE free adult work out pass per person per year.