As election nears, Romano says budget will help Sault economy

Sault MPP Ross Romano says that the Ontario government’s budget - introduced Thursday - if approved by voters and later passed through the legislature, will benefit the Sault and its economy.

“We want to rebuild our economy,” Romano said, speaking to SooToday.

The MPP said that recently announced funding for many projects is the type of thing that can be found in the budget.  

Regarding Sault Ste. Marie’s economy, Romano referred to a recent announcement made by Premier Doug Ford during a visit to the Sault on April 8 in which it was announced that the government will use its Northern Energy Advantage Program to reduce electricity costs for Algoma Steel as it makes the transition to electric arc steelmaking.

“That is securing the future of our steel industry,” Romano said.

The MPP also pointed to recently announced funding given to Sault College’s School of Engineering, designed to train and employ engineering graduates locally, as another example of securing the Sault’s economic future.

Romano said the government will work to maintain the city’s roads.

“We want to say yes to building critical infrastructure like highways and roadways within our communities…it has been three years in a row we have secured the maximum funding for Connecting Links, those highways that travel through the community. This year it was $2.25 million, which is what was asked for, so that we can get a road resurfacing on Trunk Road. That’s a very big deal given the status of our roads here in the city.”

“Another piece of infrastructure is ensuring we have long term care beds. We just announced a 192-bed facility, a $55 million project that is moving forward,” Romano said.

That facility is a Missanabie Cree-Maskwa Elder's Care Home on Third Line East.

Romano said funding for the new withdrawal management facility located at 145 Old Garden River Road - capital funding of nearly $20 million and an initial $343,000 in operational funding for the project - is another government help for vital infrastructure projects.

Romano also hailed the government’s scrapping of licence plate renewal fees as a significant move.

The province said it would refund any plate renewal fees paid since March 2020.

“Every one of us has been able to receive those cheques back in the mail. That is something that I was particularly responsible for, to ensure that 10 million cheques were issued to people, returning those funds to everyone. That’s money back in your pocket. That’s important, especially when you think about all the extra costs out there and inflationary costs.”

Romano said the budget is a pandemic recovery budget, designed to reopen Ontario and ensure the province has enough masks and other PPE moving forward.

“We now no longer rely on a foreign supply of critical supplies and equipment. We now produce over 92 per cent of all our critical supplies and personal protective equipment right here in Ontario. We’re not calling China any more. We’re calling Brockville.”   

The Progressive Conservatives will be taking the budget as its re-election platform and presenting it to Ontario voters in a provincial election campaign that will start when the legislature is dissolved in the coming days.

It is anticipated the election will be called Wednesday May 4.

“Obviously we are about to embark upon a campaign to try to secure an opportunity to represent this province, and for myself, the people of our community for another four years,” Romano said.

“I think that we've definitely built a stronger Sault Ste. Marie but the work is not done and there’s still more to do.” 

The election must be held on or before June 2.