Canada and Ontario to widen County Road 22
WINDSOR The governments of Canada and Ontario, in partnership with the County of Essex, today announced funding for the widening of Essex County Road 22 from Lakeshore Boulevard to Patillo Road. This project is one of several projects under the Let’s Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy. Funding for this strategy comes from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund, a joint commitment by the federal and provincial governments to invest $300 million in the Windsor Gateway.
Appointment to the St. John’s Port Authority
OTTAWA The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the appointment of Mr. Charlie Oliver of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to the board of directors of the St. John’s Port Authority for a term of three years.
Huge Horse Farm Downsizing Sale - $1
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A better ‘Better Way’
The TTC has announced $21 million in service improvements, consisting mostly of added bus service on some of the city’s busiest bus routes. Starting Feb. 18, the TTC will have 30 new buses on the street during the morning rush hour - 40 during the afternoon peak - and over the next year the commission is promising 500 new buses and 400 new drivers to help ease toronto’s transit crunch. “The new, improved service will result in less crowded vehicles and more convenience to our customers at all times of the week,” said TTC chair Adam Giambrone. “These increases are just the first in many that will be made this year.” What’s your view? Will the service improvements make any difference to your commute? Are you tempted to leave our car at home and take The Better Way?
Completion of Highway 30 under a public-private partnership: candidate selected
MONTREAL The Governments of Canada and Quebec announced that Nouvelle Autoroute 30, S.E.N.C. has been selected to sign a 35-year partnership agreement for the design, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and repair of Highway 30.
Gas in the GTA
Gas prices in the GTA continue to climb. As of April 16 it was clocking in at about $1.17 a litre. Even before this increase, the latest MJ Ervin & Associates survey showed the average price of regular across Canada is at its highest level in almost three years. And its not just in Canada. South of the border, the latest AAA survey shows average price of regular gasoline is at a record high, $3.38.6 US per American gallon. What do you think is fueling the rise? Are rising gas prices forcing you to make changes? Will it affect the way you use your vehicle? What’s your view?
Road Tolls
A new study concludes that cities in the GTA and Hamilton should levy road tolls and new fuel taxes to reduce gridlock and pay for better public transit. Harry Kitchen, an economic professor at Peterborough’s Trent University who authored the study, says it’s the best and fairest way to make much needed repairs to the quickly crumbling infrastructure. Right now, municipalities can only raise revenue from property taxes and user fees. His recommendations would require legislative changes by the provincial government. The study calls for road tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and the Queen Elizabeth Way. It also recommends a fuel tax of six cents a litre, as well as levies on non-residential parking spaces and motor vehicle registration fees in order to fund their road and public transit systems, reduce traffic congestion and cut greenhouse gas emissions. What’s your view? Do you think road tolls and fuel taxes are needed?
Yes or no to megacity?
At the start of January 1998, toronto’s six municipal governments were amalgamated into one megacity, but a decade later financial problems still exist. The idea of amalgamation came with promises of huge cost savings, even cuts in property tax, but that never happened. Many blame the amalgamation for financial problems the city still faces today. The Conservative provincial government of Mike Harris promised amalgamation wouldn’t hurt the new city financially. But toronto’s costs rose fast and revenue didn’t. The promised savings never materialized, nor did those property tax decreases. Harris later said that toronto failed to make the necessary cuts. But others say Harris failed to realize how expensive such a large government would become. Property tax revenue barely budged, yet the cost of wages, social services and other programs skyrocketed. Over the following years, toronto sunk deeper and deeper into a financial hole. toronto now has new tax revenue coming in and it is hoped that this spring the provincial government may once again start paying for the expensive social programs cities were handed at amalgamation. What’s your view? Did amalgamation help or hinder the development of the city? Do you like the new GTA, or would you prefer the old municipalities?
Federal Government delivers support for improvements to Queenston Plaza at Queenston-Lewiston Bridge crossing
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE The Government of Canada and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission are pleased to announce funding for the second phase of the redevelopment of the Queenston Plaza at the Queenston-Lewiston border crossing.
Too much homework?
Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says all school boards should review their homework policy to ensure kids aren’t being overloaded. toronto’s public school board is looking at setting stricter rules around homework, including removing penalties for late work and not assigning work on holidays. Wynne says those suggestions sound reasonable but she says it’s up to local school boards to set their homework policies. “I’ve always said that boards need to review their homework policy. I think it’s a really good thing that the TDSB [toronto District School Board] is looking at their homework policy and I think that some of the suggestions sound pretty reasonable to me,” Wynne told reporters at Queen’s Park . What’s your view? Are kids saddled with too much homework? Should they get a break during the holidays? Let us know.
