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$5M on the way from province
Tuesday September 2 2008
By RICHARD VIVIAN Banner Staff Writer
 
Nearly $5 million in new infrastructure money is coming to the county. The funds are part of a $1.1 billion commitment from Premier Dalton McGuinty.
“I’m extremely pleased. We’re always happy when the provincial and federal governments, in this case the provincial government, are prepared to help fund infrastructure,” says Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams.
“There is an infrastructure deficit throughout the province. In the case of Orangeville, the much-needed infrastructure funds are a welcome announcement.”
Distribution is based on population, meaning every municipality in the province will get a piece of the pie. The funding announcement was triggered by the announcement of a $600 million provincial surplus for the past year.
“Municipal leaders now have the ability to choose their next infrastructure project, and to move that project forward,” Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Jim Watson said in a press release.
Orangeville is set to receive nearly $1.6 million, with $223,421 for Amaranth, $138,818 for East Garafraxa, $165,256 for East Luther Grand Valley, $168,220 for Melancthon, $410,857 for Mono and $192,799 for Mulmur. Dufferin County will also receive about $2 million.
“It is, at the moment, still pretty vague,” Orangeville treasurer Wayne Church says of the funding program. “The only information we have is that it is to be spent on infrastructure and the only obligation we have ... is to report back affirming that it was spent on infrastructure.”
He says he’s unsure if the money is coming in advance of projects, or if the province plans to issue refunds afterward.
Municipal councils will have to decide how to spend the new money.
“Lord knows there’s enough we can do,” Church says.