AMO pleased with Ontario's Fall Economic Statement

Association of Municipalities of Ontario
News Release

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Finance Minister Dwight Duncan tabled the government's forecast today in the legislature, promising additional funding for municipal infrastructure including transit and local roads and bridges.

"Additional provincial investment in municipal infrastructure is an investment in Ontario's future prosperity," said Doug Reycraft, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. "Municipal infrastructure is a foundation of the provincial economy; securing that foundation must be a priority for all governments - municipal, provincial and federal."

The Minister's statement included new commitments that directly benefit municipalities including an additional investment of $300 million in municipal infrastructure funding to support priorities such as local roads, bridges, water systems and community infrastructure, $500 million for transit projects and to assist municipal transit systems across Ontario, and an additional investment of $100 million for transit in the Greater Toronto Area.

"Today's announcement builds on the government's decision to upload the costs of disability and drug benefits that will save municipalities $935 million a year by 2011," said Reycraft.

The Statement also included a number of tax measures to assist manufacturing and resource industries.

"The Government's actions to assist manufacturing and resource industries will help protect jobs in communities across Ontario," added Reycraft.

"Northern and resource economies dependent on exports have been hard hit by recent economic developments."

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 445 municipal governments. AMO supports strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

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