Vaughan
November 15, 2008 11:39 PM
Caroline Grech
He came armed with a four-foot cheque, a first for him, although he has been a politician for more than two decades.
Vaughan MPP Greg Sorbara made a rare appearance at city hall Thursday, but it was the digits on the front of the cheque that was behind Vaughan councillors’ wide smiles.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done this before — the cheque presentation routine — so even for aging politicians there are new things,” Mr. Sorbara said.
The city received just over $8.6 million for infrastructure under the province’s Investing in Ontario Act.
The money will go to improve city roads and bridges, expand public transit, build other municipal projects and upgrade social housing. Councillors said they couldn’t get more specific about projects just yet.
While Mr. Sorbara was happy to hand over the cheque, he warned next year’s funding might not be as big.
“This community continues to grow at a very rapid pace and the pressures on infrastructure are very significant indeed. This will not solve all of your problems and, I should say, given the way things look this year, I’m not sure the announcement will be as buoyant next year. One never knows,” Mr. Sorbara said.
“It’s the first cheque I’ve ever received, so it’s a first for both of us,” Mayor Linda Jackson joked as she handled a trowel, brought by Mr. Sorbara. “It certainly is a great cheque and I don’t know where you came up with the extra $49 but I’ll take the extra $49,” Ms Jackson said referring to the full amount on the cheque of $8,609.049.
“It (the full amount) will certainly go a long ways to offset our infrastructure challenges that we’re facing here at the city of Vaughan.”
Currently the city’s infrastructure budget is $60 million.
While councillors were mostly mum on where the money will go, they said it will be discussed in future budget meetings which are open to the public.
The mayor said there is a list of areas she received from various commissioners where the money could be spent.
Mr. Sorbara lauded his government’s policies related to municipal government and even took a shot at the federal Conservatives while expressing concerns that the city’s largest infrastructure project, the York-Spadina subway extension was not moving fast enough.
“If I was to tell you the truth, I’m still a little bit distressed that we don’t have enough shovels in the ground, but on the last day before the federal government dissolved the last days of federal Parliament, our dear friend Jim Flaherty said, ‘OK, before we go to the polls, we’ll make our commitment as well,’” Mr. Sorbara said. “The construction of that facility will transform the city of Vaughan and York Region. It is so very important that we proceed with that.”