Feds abandoned us, Ontario Minister of Transportation (5 photos)
Friday, March 01, 2013 by: Darren Taylor
With Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Sault Ste. Marie MPP and Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti and most of the Ontario cabinet in town at once for one day only, it’s a bit of a challenge to get to speak with each one of them.
But, we did our best!
As reported earlier Friday by SooToday.com, we spoke with Wynne and Orazietti on the Premier’s new Northern cabinet committee.
We caught up with Education Minister Liz Sandals cutting the ribbon at the new Holy Cross Elementary School in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, before the team went into a cabinet meeting at Bondar Place, we spoke with Transportation Minister Glen Murray (shown) and Health Minister Deb Matthews.
We asked Murray if the government would rethink its’ unexpected decision to end 75 percent of grant funding to help maintain Sault Ste. Marie’s connecting links (vital commercial roadways that lead into, through and out of the city).
A letter to the City received only last month from former Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli stated that funding source has been discontinued, leaving Sault taxpayers to foot the entire bill for maintenance of the connecting links, thereby pushing already long-awaited local street repairs further down the priority list.
That funding has been replaced by the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII), but Sault Ste. Marie will face stiff competition from other Ontario communities for MIII funding, which amounts to only $90 million for the entire province.
City CAO Joe Fratesi told SooToday.com last week the City would be appealing to Orazietti and the MTO for a possible exception clause for Sault Ste. Marie, with its significant amount of connecting links and connection to the U.S. markets via the International Bridge.
Murray did not mention an exception clause, but told SooToday.com “I spoke this morning with Mayor Debbie Amaroso and Mr. Fratesi and we had a very good conversation.”
“We talked about how MIII can solve some of these problems, but we agreed it’s not going to solve all of them. We agreed also that we need a new funding model, a new revenue tool. The Premier has talked about dedicating revenue tools for roads and highways, and that will be ready for next year’s budget.”
“My job over the next six months is to find those new funding tools.”
“We’ve spent $13 billion on highways this past year. We talked about how we can better position that money to better meet the Sault’s needs. We shook hands and had a very good conversation, we agreed existing funding wasn’t a sufficient solution for Sault Ste. Marie, and we agreed that in the next year we would have an agreement to solve the problem.”
Murray said “Mayor Amaroso showed some real leadership and I’m very appreciative of that, and I think we’ll have some good news on this issue when I’m back in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Murray told us he will take many three-day trips to various communities in every region of the province to address roadway funding issues.
Both Murray and Orazietti said the federal government, which had a traditional 50-50 share of highway funding with Ontario, needs to step up to the plate and fulfill its’ previous funding commitments.
Murray said “they (the federal government) have absolutely abandoned us, especially in Northern and remote areas. We’re spending $13 billion in Ontario, the federal government is only spending $6 billion, so one of the things I’m going to be working on with Mayors in the North is try to get the feds back to their traditional role.”
Regarding health care issues, Health Minister Deb Matthews and Orazietti were clearly enthused about an increased availability of family doctors and nurse practitioners in Sault Ste. Marie and reduced wait times for certain procedures at Sault Area Hospital.
Will certain medical procedures be de-listed from OHIP coverage?
Matthews told us “our action plan is based on evidence. If there’s something that benefits patients, we will fund it. Vitamin D testing for example…the evidence is overwhelming that healthy people don’t benefit from Vitamin D testing, we de-listed that.”
“We want to invest more in home care, community care, lots of things we want to spend on, so we have to follow the evidence.”
Matthews stated the province is committed to universal healthcare, and to protect the health care needs of an ageing population.
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Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
I'm In 3/2/2013 12:21:31 AM ReportIf the city raises municipal taxes in 2013 they will be in for a war, and I will lead it. The fed. and prov. are cutting funding because they don't have it. Its time for our municipal leaders to follow suit, and also fed. and public servants took a two year wage freeze, it time for city staff to do the same when we are in a time of constraints
BlackHelix 3/2/2013 1:12:40 AM ReportPublic servants are already on a wage freeze. They've been on one for over 2 years.....
FunMan 3/2/2013 6:09:30 AM ReportThere has been no wage freeze at the City.
Unions received their raises. Management received a 2 percent raise and had their benefit package extended from age 66 to 75--100 percent paid by the employer---the taxpayers.
So you retire at say 55 or 60 and all of your benefits are paid by us taxpayers until age 75.
Must be nice.
rcssm69 3/2/2013 7:40:47 AM ReportI'm in...
So my understanding is that you're prepared to have garbage removed every two weeks, plowing done like in Thunder Bay (where they alternate plowing side streets), drive around potholes and bumpy streets, close the pools and rinks as they are non-essential, close down Bondar Pavillion, Bellevue Park, Strathclair, etc... As that is what cuts are!!! Not just wages!!! Lower taxes means lower services!!!
Before you go opening your mouth and spewing nonsense, can you say you're actually happy with the province and federal cuts???
Sounds like you have an agenda against the City! Maybe you best keep it to yourself!
rcssm69 3/2/2013 7:43:17 AM ReportFunMan...
If you're the employer of the City, why don't you go take a plow truck for a spin!!! After all, it is yours!!! ROTFL
rcssm69 3/2/2013 7:45:54 AM Report...or maybe the City should raise prices for services so that they reflect the actual costs! Yeh, that would go over well!
FunMan 3/2/2013 8:04:54 AM Reportrcssm
Just saying benefits to age 75 are a little much.
You sound like you are a City Management employee.
Lo-Cal 3/2/2013 8:14:23 AM ReportPlow Truck ? where are they ? sure aren't coming down my street ....
Not going to knock anyones job here but we all have to admit our current municipal taxes are getting way out of hand. Call a friend in toronto or Oakville ... there taxes are half of what we pay and they sure have alot nicer roads and maintenance around the city... just sayin'
rcssm69 3/2/2013 8:16:52 AM ReportSorry, not an employee, just a realist. If you think that small benefit has everything to do with tax increases...you aren't anywhere near the mark.
If us employers of the City, the taxpayers, don't want to see a tax increase, it's going to take cuts in our services. This is the reality of it all. And this City won't stand for that! Be happy that they aren't 7% or 8% like in some other Northern Communities.
rcssm69 3/2/2013 8:29:18 AM ReportLo-Cal
Can you back up those claims? Really, half???
bignickel 3/2/2013 9:02:13 AM ReportRe: Toronto property tax.
Toronto has the highest tax rate in Canada.
Check this link.
http://www.jeffreyteam.com/blog/toronto-real-estate-market/toronto-has-highest-property-taxes-in-canada/
Lo-Cal 3/2/2013 9:05:25 AM ReportUnfortunately yes I can ... Friends just purchased an all Brick ... yes all Brick ! two storey home over 2600 sq ft two years old fully finished basement landscaping paved driveway... 569000... Taxes 3450 per year .
That same house here is 569000x.01895=10782.55
Numbers don't lie ....sorry to bear the real news lol
Not to mention the nice trees on every lot maintained by the city staff beautiful parks at every corner in subdivisions and ample places to eat shop and WORK !
Wisenheimer 3/2/2013 9:40:41 AM ReportLose Essar and change the name to "little
Detroit".
khari 3/2/2013 9:50:11 AM ReportTo I'm in and fun man. I totally agree with both of you.Very well said. To rcssm69!! You do sound like a city employee and the ultimate know it all!! So tired of seeing you rip everyone's head off everytime they voice there opinion about anything especially when it comes to this city. This city has allways had a bottomless garbage bag when it comes OUR money.What do you care! Aslong as your able to cash your check every payday, You seem to forget where your pay checks come from! Maybe soo today should pass all the comments through you first so you can approve them before they get posted since you have all the facts and figures about everything and it seems only your thoughts and opinion matters.There's more to life than just what rcssm69 thinks and says.
I'm In 3/2/2013 11:53:06 AM Reportrcssm69: I am a former employee of the city now moved on, and yes I saw the the municipal tax money go down the urinal with no accountability. Our mayor wants more money for infrastructure which the Feds. and the Provs. don't have becuase of tough economic times, I want the services I pay for in this city but city staff shouldn't expect a wage increase (including O Joe) while everyone else including ESSAR is going to take one for the next couple of years.
To BlackHelix: The provincial public servants last contract expired 31/12/2012 and they saw a modest wage increase since 2008, so they are ok with a wage freeze as long as the Libs don't continue pissing money away and pay down the debt. In these tough times everyone needs to be accountable
rcssm69 3/2/2013 12:08:45 PM Reportkhari...I knew you were going to say that!!! LOL
khari 3/2/2013 12:25:46 PM ReportTo rcssm69. You knew nothing!!lol What are you, a mind reader now!! Is there anything in life you don't know??
Stugatzu 3/2/2013 12:42:41 PM ReportYou can't compare the services received in Oakville to those of Sault Ste. Marie. It is a skewed perspective. Sault Ste. Marie has a population of approximately 75,000 and Oakville has a population of approximately 183,000 (both figures rounded to the nearest 1000).
Just using a brief example -- if they collected $10 from every person towards taxes.. the Sault nets $750,000 while Oakville brings in $1,820,000.
Sault Ste. Mare also on average receives two to three times as much snow per month than Oakville. According to Environment Canada (1971-2000) maximum anual average snowfall for Oakville was 82.8", while Sault Ste. Marie was 302.9" -- almost four times more.
You're comparing apples to oranges when you are comparing quality of service between Oakville and Sault Ste. Marie.
Ricatoni 3/2/2013 1:22:23 PM ReportSo Hayes what do you have to say ???Nothing as usual???the feds are screwing us in Northern Ontario and our great pc leader Brian Hayes has nothing to say or do?????.this is what we get for voting in a losing party and a losing pc candidate....thanks for absolutely nothing Hayes.....thanks for forgetting about us Hayes>........ the ones paying your rediculous salary
rcssm69 3/2/2013 3:52:04 PM Reportkhari...I knew you were going to say that too!!! LOL
BlackHelix 3/2/2013 4:31:46 PM Report@I'm in
Except you right? So you think the guy making $35,000 a year filing papers should have his wage frozen in these "tough times" because he needs to be accountable, but definitely not you. If your taxes go up one cent there's going to be a war, led by you right?
That makes much more sense.
BlackHelix 3/2/2013 4:36:41 PM Report@Stugatzu
Oakville is also one of the richest cities in Canada. There are SEVERAL 10+ million dollar homes on Lakeshore Dr. alone. I would imagine the property taxes are slightly higher than here.
Apples to Oranges? More like comparing Apples to Fruit salad...
Ricatoni 3/2/2013 4:50:34 PM ReportMPAC has reassessed every ones home in the Soo and everyone I talked to said the same thing...... your house is going up in value by 60 thousand over the next four years.Sound familiar??who do you think is getting this money ?? the CITY!!!!!! They are robbing us blind......we pay way to much tax on a house for the services we recieve.
I know people in this city who pay 8 thousand a year and have ditches,no sidewalks,no water or sewer service.8 thousand for garbage pick up and road plowed ....you think thats fair??? their robbing us blind and we just take it right in the pocket!!!!!!!!
rcssm69 3/3/2013 8:46:29 AM ReportRicatoni
You are over-simplifying the process big time! I'm not going to lecture you on MPAC's role and the City and where taxes collected actually go. Take some time and read the process...
rcssm69 3/3/2013 8:51:47 AM Report@I'm in
I highly doubt that as a former employee of the City, you refused any wage increases when they came your way!!!
A little hypocritical I would think!!!
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
