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Minister Jim Watson with OGRA Past President Jim Harrison and Chris White, the Past Chair of ROMA, after his address to the 2008 conference
View a slide show of the 2008 Ontario Good Roads Association/Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference.
Welcome again to UPDATE, the e-newsletter of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Our goal is to keep you informed on progress in the municipal and housing sectors.
OGRA/ROMA
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the annual Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) / Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference. This was my first OGRA/ROMA conference as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and it was a great opportunity to discuss the important issues facing Ontario’s rural municipalities. I was pleased that we had a record number of ministers participating as well.
Municipal Climate: Adapting to Change was the theme of this year’s conference. Today, change is constant, and the key is to harness change to strengthen our communities.
Ontario’s rural and urban municipalities share a number of concerns, although rural municipalities also have some unique needs. At the conference, I heard from many local representatives about how municipalities are changing to meet their communities’ challenges. We also exchanged many ideas about how the province and municipalities can continue working in partnership to find the creative solutions to address these challenges.
Premier McGuinty spoke at the conference and announced that the province is making additional investments in municipal infrastructure. Another $150 million will be added to the $300 million Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative that our government launched last fall. This investment will provide municipalities across Ontario with more money to build and repair roads, bridges and other public facilities, and create about 6,700 construction jobs.
Over the last five years, one of our government’s top priorities was to improve the relationship between the province and municipalities. Together, we have made some great progress, but we know we still have more work to do. I am confident that together, we will deliver services that we can all be proud of and ensure a strong, sustainable future for all Ontarians.
Investing in Communities
My colleague, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, and I have just announced the government's intention to introduce legislation next week that would, if passed, designate a portion of the provincial surplus to municipalities for their infrastructure needs.
The proposed Investing in Ontario Act would direct a portion of provincial surpluses for municipal infrastructure and would help our municipal partners invest in key infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, transit, social housing or other capital priorities.
This Issue…..
I recently hosted a ceremony celebrating Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion’s lifelong commitment to public service. This issue of UPDATE carries an account of our naming the main boardroom at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in her honour.
We have just celebrated the third anniversary of Ontario’s award-winning Greenbelt and this issue of our e-newsletter reports on the release of draft criteria for growing the Greenbelt.
Building Code
We are seeking the views of municipalities, stakeholders and the public on proposed Building Code amendments. We are also coordinating a series of consultations with the Office of the Fire Marshal on changes that would require fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed multiple-unit residential buildings higher than three storeys. Details on these consultations can be found on the Building Code website.
I encourage you to provide us with your feedback on UPDATE. If this issue has been forwarded to you and you would like to continue receiving our e-newsletter, please take the time to subscribe.
Jim Watson
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Minister Jim Watson and Premier Dalton McGuinty greet OGRA Past President Jim Harrison and Chris White, the Past Chair of ROMA, before the Premier’s address last month to the OGRA/ROMA annual conference. |
Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Attorney General Chris Bentley and Transportation Minister Jim Bradley during the Ministers’ Forum. |
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Carol Mitchell, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister Jim Watson share a dance during the Government of Ontario reception. |