The following comments regarding the 2016 Ontario Budget were submitted to BarrieToday by the office of Mayor Jeff Lehman.
************************
The Province should be commended for significantly reducing the deficit.
I am pleased to see a renewed commitment in infrastructure investment, however, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the details of this funding as the list of projects in Barrie are long and the urgent need for reinvestment in existing road and water networks, building new transportation links and community infrastructure cannot be overstated.
What Barrie needs is long term predictable, sustainable and dedicated infrastructure funding mechanisms, similar to the permanent and indexed federal Gas Tax Fund.
We need to see quick action so as to not lose the 2016 construction season.
The three-year investment of $178 million for affordable housing, while a good start, is not nearly enough to have a significant impact on addressing this growing problem facing communities across Ontario.
Ensuring that students from families with incomes of $50,000 or lower have access to free tuition for university and college studies is a great step to making the education system more equitable.
The increased investments in hospital funding is badly needed and always welcomed.
It’s great to see the Province is taking another step to address climate change.
We have seen significant severe weather events across our Province which has had a major impact on the infrastructure of municipalities.
I hope that any cap and trade funds are reinvested in badly needed infrastructure and public transit.
I'm disappointed to see the elimination of the tax credit for children's activity programs.
I think many Barrie families use this to help make recreation programs more affordable which allows more kids to participate in City programs.
************************
