The sorry state of municipal infrastructure across Canada is regularly reported on; in the 2012 King Township budget the 10 year capital plan shows $91 million expenditures of which 65 % ($59 million) is for roads and waste water projects.   Given this the expiration in March 2014 of the Building Canada Plan and a number of important federal-provincial transfer Agreements vital to Canada’s cities and communities is very concerning.  The Federal Government has indicated intent to develop new long term plan.  We need more than intent to efficiently make budgets and manage our projects.

In support of the effort of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to get a Plan from the Federal Government, Councillor Eek tabled a motion, seconded by Mayor Pellegrini, asking for timely commitment to a plan adequate to meet needs of the Canadian municipalities.  The resolution was endorsed unanimously by Council September 10, 2012.

You can read the whole resolution here.  But, if you don’t have time to read it, this excerpt reviews clearly why this national issue is very much a King Township issue.

“…Our community has continuing infrastructure needs, such as the Canal Bridges projects (which are currently not funded in any way except through taxation (or deferred taxes through borrowing). The repairs and/or reconstruction (as may be the case) of these bridges are crucial linkages for high value crop producers in the Holland Marsh (food production); as a small municipality that is facing increased growth as per the Places to Grow Act, our Public Works Yard requires expansion or relocation, and is not funded (except minimally through Development Charges). Suitable Public Works facilities and infrastructure are required to enable our Engineering and Public Works Department to carry out the business of maintaining our roads and infrastructure (economic growth may be affected); it is paramount that sustainable funding sources are made available for municipal infrastructure renewal. With the increased growth, a small municipality such as the Township of King will have difficulty maintaining roads and bridges on an on-going basis if we are to rely solely on property taxation (Provincial funding no longer exists). Affordable and accessible high speed internet and broadband connectivity to encourage economic development in rural municipalities are high priority items due to the immediate need for replacement and no opportunity to defer, that can only be met with through the kind of long-term planning and investment made possible by a national plan;….”