Given a recent provincial announcement promising the uploading of two major Toronto expressways, Chatham-Kent council is lobbying for the same concerning its roads.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Council unanimously passed a motion Monday from Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, who noted the latest news concerning the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.
Article content
His motion asked that council direct administration to “identify roadways previously funded by the province and draft a letter requesting similar treatment, including an uploading of said identified roadways to the province.”
Last month, the province announced it will take control of the two expressways as part of a new deal with the city.
McGregor admitted he is realistic about the motion itself, but called it important to at least raise the issue.
“I do think it’s helpful that the community and even members around this table recognize the impact of previous downloads,” he said.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“The outcome in the infrastructure deficit that we face resulting from that and the added expense to taxpayers in Chatham-Kent is pretty profound. …I think there’s some opportunity for municipalities to be a little louder in their call for new revenue tools and new revenue sharing.”
McGregor believes there is much more work to do on the matter, including through the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Michael Duben, Chatham-Kent’s chief administrator, said the letter will also mention the municipality’s openness to other potential revenue opportunities.
“I do think down the road that the impact of long-term improvements to Talbot Trail in this community is significant,” he said.
“We probably need to develop some sort of an advocacy approach to having some discussions about Talbot Trail.”
Advertisement 4
Article content
Talbot Trail has experienced significant structural issues in recent years due to erosion and its proximity to Lake Erie in certain stretches.
Duben said although many roads have been downloaded throughout the province, there are “very few that attract this kind of expense.”
During the November, Premier Doug Ford said the two highways Ontario is uploading transport announcement more than 300,000 vehicles daily and are vital to the economy.
“If you look at Toronto alone and in the surrounding area of Toronto, they represent 50 per cent of our GDP,” he said. “It’s massive. There’s nothing like it in the country.”
– With Canadian Press files
Article content