Dalton & Dave fix our potholes & bridges

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************* Orazietti announces $1,465,401 for road and bridge improvements in Sault Ste. Marie

Infrastructure funding part of plan to strengthen the economy SAULT STE. MARIE, ON — The McGuinty government will invest $1,465,401 for repairs to roads and bridges in Sault Ste. Marie, David Orazietti MPP announced today.

“This investment further demonstrates our government’s commitment to reduce financial pressures on our city and improve our roads and bridges,” said Orazietti. “In addition to today’s new infrastructure funding, provincial transfer payments to our municipality have increased by 34 percent or $7.3 million over the past five years.”

Today’s announcement is Sault Ste. Marie’s share of $400 million the McGuinty government is immediately investing in roads and bridges in municipalities outside Toronto, based on their share of Ontario’s road network in relation to population.

This funding builds on the province’s investment of $450 million in 2007-2008 for the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative, consisting of $300 million announced in the 2007 Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review and the $150 million announced at the 2008 OGRA/ROMA Conference.

This funding is also in addition to the proposed bill, the Investing in Ontario Act, which would direct a portion of provincial surpluses in excess of $800 million to municipalities for capital needs.

The 2008 Ontario budget will grow a stronger economy through a five-point plan that includes:

- Infrastructure improvements in every municipality in Ontario, creating 10,000 jobs during construction.

- A new, long-term skills training program for up to 20,000 Ontario workers.

- Lower costs for businesses, by eliminating the capital tax for manufacturers.

- Partnerships with forward-looking businesses to create jobs, through our Next Generation of Jobs Fund.

- Support for research and development, to turn home-grown ideas into Ontario jobs.

Today’s announcement will help move the Ontario economy forward by improving the infrastructure families and businesses depend on.

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