When they come from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Tories, they apparently mean little.
More than 15 months after the federal government promised $3.1 billion to help Ontario municipalities — $8.8 billion across Canada — pay to repair/replace aging infrastructure, the cheque’s still in the mail.
Funding delays, as Mayor Hazel McCallion is quick to point out, will only add to the final tab for municipalities.
Rising fuel and resource prices, combined with deteriorating highways, bridges, water works and public transit systems, are pushing prices higher every week.
While cities and towns have already missed out on two construction seasons because of the delays in transferring the money, most are reluctant to push ahead with infrastructure initiatives until the money’s in the bank, resulting in further postponements and more costly refurbishments.
According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, only one municipality in Canada — Regina, Saskatchewan — has actually received any monies since the funding, part of the Building Canada Fund, was announced in March 2007.
Meanwhile, the money earmarked for Ontario has been delayed while the Feds work out the minutiae with their provincial counterparts.
Citing provincial agreement on framework as a stumbling block to forwarding funds to the muncipalities, at least one federal minister insists the government is close to “singing or announcing” agreements with Ontario.
But, while higher levels of government are consistent in their placations that implementation of the Building Canada initiative, the nation’s “flagship” infrastructure program, is progressing well, neither federal nor provincial representatives will put a date on potential receipt of any funding.
Even after agreements have been signed, municipalities could still play a waiting game for their monies while the Province sorts out which towns and cities will get what.
It’s another case of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
