Ontario Construction News staff writer
Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to ante up for infrastructure and health priorities, including ending halfway healthcare and expanded subway capacity in Toronto.
Monday, while engaged in a fireside chat at Communitech in Kitchener, the premier said he plans to take a Team Ontario delegation to the First Ministers’ meeting in Ottawa this Friday (March 13) to press the federal government to commit to funding initiatives.
“Our government has made significant progress on working with our municipal partners to get transit built, end hallway health care, and create the business environment that now has Ontario leading the country in job creation,” said Ford.
“We’ve done our part to help the federal government promote national unity and strengthen trade ties with our U.S. partners. The people of Ontario now expect all three levels of government to roll up our sleeves and work together. We’re asking the federal government to join us at the table and fund their fair share, so we can deliver what matters most to the people of Ontario.”
The Province’s wish list include:
- Providing 40 per cent funding of the province’s Greater Toronto Area Subway Plan
- Approving all of the outstanding critical infrastructure projects Ontario submitted through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
- Increasing the Canada Health Transfer by 5.2 per cent annually in order to improve healthcare delivery and end hallway health care
- Increasing economic immigration to drive more job creation and growth in the province.
The Province recently signed a statement of intent to the City of Toronto, detailing its plan to increase transit capacity through regulatory changes and legislation. Shortly after, it did just that with its Building Transit Faster Act.
Subway transit priorities are:
- The plan includes a commitment to deliver the new 15.5 kilometre long Ontario Line by 2027, and three extensions by 2029/31, connecting Exhibition Place and Ontario Place to the Ontario Science Centre.
- The Young North Subway Extension, stretching from Finch station to the Richmond Hill Centre, will provide much needed transit connections to York Region, said Mulroney.
- Etobicoke neighbourhoods will see increased transit access from the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which may also see a future expansion to Pearson International Airport.
- The Scarborough Subway Extension will provide residents with the “three-stop subway” line they have been anticipating, the minister said.
Ministers who will participate in the First Ministers’ meeting include Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Treasury Board President, Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous buy accutane isotretinoin online Affairs, and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
Commenting earlier on the meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian are clear about the need for politicians to work together to address the issues that matter most to them.
“I look forward to working with the premiers so we can create jobs and economic growth, build healthy and safe communities, fight climate change, and make life more affordable for Canadians. With cooperation, we can create new opportunities for all Canadians and continue to build a country that works for everyone.”
Quick facts from the Province:
- Ontario is moving forward with the single largest investment in new subway builds in Canadian history, with a $28.5 billion subway expansion plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
- The Province and the City of Toronto are working together to advance this project through the Ontario-Toronto Transit Partnership, and the project has the support of York Region
- The Province is asking the federal government to contribute their fair share of at least 40 per cent of the cost of the subway projects and close the $6 billion gap in funding required to move the expansion forward
- The federal government currently provides for 25 per cent of Ontario’s health care costs
- Last year, Ontario asked the federal government for 1,000 additional provincial nominee program allocations and received 50
- EY Canada’s 2018 line?by?line review reported that the people of Ontario send $12.9 billion more to Ottawa than the province receives.
Quick facts from the federal government:
- This year, the Government of Canada is transferring $81.6 billion to provinces and territories to support important health and social services for Canadians. This includes $41.9 billion for the Canada Health Transfer, $15 billion for the Canada Social Transfer, $20.6 billion in equalization payments, and $4.2 billion under the Territorial Formula Financing program
- Budget 2017 committed $11 billion over 10 years in targeted funding for provinces and territories to improve access to mental health and addiction services, as well as for home and community care, in support of the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities.
- Through its Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities, to create long-term economic growth, support a low-carbon, green economy, and build inclusive communities
- The Government of Canada is committed to work with provinces and territories to reduce trade barriers. In 2019, the Government of Canada amended the Importation of Intoxicating Liquor Act, removing all remaining barriers to interprovincial trade of alcohol.