| MACLEOD TO MCGUINTY: SHOW US THE MONEY! |
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| Monday, 13 November 2006 19:00 |
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MACLEOD TO MCGUINTY: SHOW US THE MONEY! Ontario Liberals not committing to infrastructure renewal in Larry O’Brien’s Ottawa. QUEEN’S PARK, November 14, 2006 – Following the landslide victory of Larry O’Brien in Monday’s Ottawa mayoral election, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod is demanding that the Ontario government keep its 2004 promise to share in the cost of infrastructure renewal in the City of Ottawa. "On Friday afternoon, three days before the municipal election was to be held in Ottawa, this Liberal Government issued a letter to city officials regarding the proposed north-south light rail project," said Macleod. "Former Mayor Chiarelli claimed this letter meant the Province would veto any light rail plan but his and the $200 million in infrastructure funding from the Province would be lost." According to his web site, Mayor O’Brien has committed to negotiate a six months’ hiatus to allow the City of Ottawa to provide alternatives to what he calls, "the clear failings and deficits in the current plan." MacLeod points out that four new councilors who have not voted on the project were elected on Monday, and that two veteran councilors have already indicated they will be changing their vote on light rail. MacLeod also points out that the Ontario Government promised the $200 million in funding before an environmental assessment was completed and before any contracts had been signed. "Will the Premier afford the new City Council the same flexibility it did in 2004, with two other levels of Liberal Government, when it approved $200 million in funding for a project that it had no environmental assessment for and even fewer details?" asked MacLeod. - 30 - For more information, please contact: Stephen Gilman, Executive Assistant Phone: 613-823-2116 Cell: 613-297-2051 |