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McGuinty Government New Plan to Build Stronger Rural Communities
Ontario’s Rural Plan – Framework for Positive Change

For Immediate Release
November 10, 2004

KINGSTON — The McGuinty government is listening to rural Ontario and has launched its rural plan to respond to their priority needs, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Gerretsen announced in Kingston today.

Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and Parliamentary Assistant – Rural to Minister Gerretsen, and Rick Bartolucci, MPP for Sudbury and Minister of Northern Development and Mines, simultaneously launched the plan in Watford and Sudbury.

"Our government’s rural plan, Strong Rural Communities: Working Together for Success, leverages the potential of our rural communities by improving the way we work with municipalities, residents, businesses, and community organizations — the people and groups that make up what rural Ontario is today and will be tomorrow," said Gerretsen.

"Our plan incorporates what we heard from individuals and organizations across Ontario about their communities’ most pressing needs and priorities and offers strategies to boost economic development, address fiscal pressures and infrastructure needs and recognizes the importance of healthy communities," said Van Bommel.

"The Northern Prosperity Plan, which is designed to attract investment, promote economic development and create jobs in Northern Ontario, is a perfect complement to the rural plan, as both will help us improve the quality of life in northern Ontario," added Bartolucci.

Ontario’s success depends on building strong communities, a strong economy and a healthy environment in rural Ontario. The rural plan acknowledges the important contributions that rural Ontario makes to the vitality of our entire province, and will help this region continue to grow and prosper.

"This plan was promised by Premier McGuinty and the provincial government has delivered," said Frances Shamley, southwest community animator for the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. "We are pleased to have had the opportunity to provide our input to the plan and welcome this framework for building a strong rural Ontario."

For more information, visit www.ruralplan.ontario.ca or contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 1-888-588-4111.

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Backgrounder: Ontario's Rural Plan


Contacts:

Patti Munce
Minister’s Office
(416) 585-6333

Lera Ryan
Rural Development Division
(519) 826-6690







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^That's funny, they haven't even helped the big cities yet as they had promised.

I guess we are out in the cold again.

I told you so.

I'm not opposed to offering funds to smaller communities to help offset population drain and general obsolescence, but the Fibs' embarrassing eagerness to offer funds to these communities, while being so tight-fisted everywhere else, strikes me as a cynical ploy to reel in the rural vote, which unfortunately has the power to make or break governments. I'm becoming more and more convinced that Toronto, with or without the GTA, needs it's own provincial or at least extra-municipal status.

Problem: It's the feds! Becoming our own province does not change this fact. Working with 905 is CRTICAL!

Problem: It's the feds!

So, what do we do about it? No other province has negotiating space in this regard, because they have all been recipients -- yes, even Alberta.

Outside of Quebec, which is a mystery (Ontario actually has more debt per capita), a large chunk of the transfer payments for 2004/2005 will be going to the Eastern Provinces and a significant portion of that can still be directly attributed due to the fishing restrictions implemented there (would have been in far worse shape without any fish though).

Ontario cannot exactly separate and become it's own country. We'd have huge problems demonstrating "stability" which would cause a large number of issues. Just read a little history about Montreal to find out what happens when the government is hinting at large reforms.

The problem isn't the feds. The problem is the perception by most Canadians, those in Ontario and Toronto are included, that Toronto and other large urban centres are not a good place for government investments. Toronto is more than Bay Street, but the average Canadian seems to think of banks ripping them off and having higher than usual profits when they hear the word Toronto.

How do we deomonstrate that all Canadian Urban centers are a good place to invest government dollars and that some of the things we take for granted are a poor investment in Rural canada (high speed internet anyone?).

Why don't Torontonians invest in themselves anymore? We even complain about paying a share of the GO fees, despite most of the destinations being Toronto businesses with Toronto restaurants and retailers directly benefitting.

I don't blame the Feds, I blame AreBe, myself, and many others on this Forum from Canadian urban centres for not being enough of an evalgesest about what we can do for Canada, rather than complaining about Canada not doing enough for us.

If we told the Canadian government we could give than $5B over 15 years (with payments accelerating in the later have) in trade for $1.5B today (and present it this way to Canadians via the press), then they might have an easy time going through with it.

I don't see what the problem is. Do you guys expect the Liberals to only focus on the needs of big cities? They've already done more for cities in a year than the last government did in nearly a decade...they certainly aren't perfect but I'd say it's inaccurate to fault them on their urban platform...unless progress is a bad thing.

So, what do we do about it? No other province has negotiating space in this regard, because they have all been recipients -- yes, even Alberta.
....
The problem isn't the feds. The problem is the perception by most Canadians, those in Ontario and Toronto are included, that Toronto and other large urban centres are not a good place for government investments. Toronto is more than Bay Street, but the average Canadian seems to think of banks ripping them off and having higher than usual profits when they hear the word Toronto.

How do we demonstrate that all Canadian Urban centers are a good place to invest government dollars and that some of the things we take for granted are a poor investment in Rural canada (high speed internet anyone?).
...
I don't blame the Feds, I blame AreBe, myself, and many others on this Forum from Canadian urban centres for not being enough of an evalgesest about what we can do for Canada, rather than complaining about Canada not doing enough for us......
POINTZ:
1. RBT, VERY GOOD THINKING!!!!
2. But here's what we can do: WORK WITH 905! Freaking very important! the 22 seats of 416 are easy to push around -- heck, it pays to be seen to be pushing them around! (see Bay St., etc. in quote) But the 44+ seats of the GTA--- THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED!!! I know you guys hate it, but the magic bullet is for 416 and 905 to work together in a real deal, tangible, non- b.s. way: SUBWAY TO 905 = TTC funding problems solved! You guys know the rest re: governments falling over themselves to fund a Highway 7 LRT, finish Sheppard, and a downtown relief line, etc. OK, but that's just transit, one of many, many funding problems.

3. There is a problem with the federation--- the responsibilities of various levels of government are inverse to the taxiing authority - the ragging debate ion political science, I believe,. the feds have all the money, the provinces have ten bucks left after paying for education and health care, and the cities get squat, and have to deal with a host of very expensive items, from public heath , school boards , police, social services, infrastructure : All blow- your- brains - out expensive stuff.
4- We live in Toronto or the GTA, and thus have no idea how loathed we are
5- In Atlantic Canada, high school kids study "Maritime history" aka Toronto and Ontario bashing.
6- still , THE KEY IS FOR TORONTO TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
A: Work with 905,
B: Work with other big cities.

^ I don't think the 905ers will be willing to foot the 1/3 bill of extending the TTC into 905 region, for it's in the tune of hundreds of millions, impossible with their tax base. Cash-strapped TO can't afford paying for the goodwill gesture either.

"I don't think the 905ers will be willing to foot the 1/3 bill of extending the TTC into 905 region, for it's in the tune of hundreds of millions, impossible with their tax base."


Well, if we are talking subways, it would be a hell of a lot more than hundreds of millions. The 905 actually has slightly more people, and a richer tax base than the 416...but that's not the problem...it's that their built form cannot support that kind of infastructure at this point. The best we could hope for is maybe a line that extends to a couple of hub points, acting like more of a suburban commuter point....it couldn't be truley intigrated with the TTC.






KGB

2. But here's what we can do: WORK WITH 905! Freaking very important! the 22 seats of 416 are easy to push around -- heck, it pays to be seen to be pushing them around! (see Bay St., etc. in quote) But the 44+ seats of the GTA--- THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED!!! I know you guys hate it, but the magic bullet is for 416 and 905 to work together in a real deal, tangible, non- b.s. way: SUBWAY TO 905 = TTC funding problems solved! You guys know the rest re: governments falling over themselves to fund a Highway 7 LRT, finish Sheppard, and a downtown relief line, etc. OK, but that's just transit, one of many, many funding problems.


Funny, building a subway in the 905 would actually be working against the 905, if you build it Mississauga.

Building the subway in the 905 will only make the TTC's problems worse. The BRT plans that the suburbs came up with are far more sensible. Hell, even LRT is unsuitable for most of the 905, let alone the subway. The 905 is too spread out. That's why they are building BRT instead.

I think McGuinty has been a good job in terms cities issues, at least alot better than the previous government, so I have no complaints.

"I don't think the 905ers will be willing to foot the 1/3 bill of extending the TTC into 905 region, for it's in the tune of hundreds of millions, impossible with their tax base."


Well, if we are talking subways, it would be a hell of a lot more than hundreds of millions. The 905 actually has slightly more people, and a richer tax base than the 416...but that's not the problem...it's that their built form cannot support that kind of infastructure at this point. The best we could hope for is maybe a line that extends to a couple of hub points, acting like more of a suburban commuter point....it couldn't be truley intigrated with the TTC.

KGB

Since 905 is made up of many regions, including Halton, York & Peel, I don't think each individual region will be able to pay for their share of the subway extension that passes through their area. Since most of 905 cannot support any type of PT, I doubt all 905ers will band together and pay for a service that only extends to a small area of 905.

GO train should act as the suburban commuter points (granted that TO doesn't end up footing a chunk of the expansion bill) to serve 905.

McGuinty's urban agenda is off to a good start, no complaints yet.

Will McGunity be able to fufill all these promises...

Will McGunity be able to fufill all these promises...

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! It's Dalton McGuinty! Of course he wont!

That's my logic too!

That's my logic too!

"I won't lower taxes, but I wont raise them either"

2 months later, middle class families were poaying 600$ more

He';s a reptilian kitten eater from space if i ever saw one!

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! It's Dalton McGuinty! Of course he wont!


Liberal Promises (http://toronto.cbc.ca/features/promises/)

As I said, this government has done more for cities so far than the last government did in nearly a decade. Im no fan of their broken promises, but they've kept most and to be honest they seem no different than any other government when it comes to keeping promises. If they don't improve their track record I'll probably be casting my vote for someone else next election, but their mandate has 4 more years to go and their talk and action on cities has been very encouraging.

As much as I don't like the man, I will admit that he has kept more of his promises than I had expected.

^ I don't think the 905ers will be willing to foot the 1/3 bill of extending the TTC into 905 region, for it's in the tune of hundreds of millions, impossible with their tax base. Cash-strapped TO can't afford paying for the goodwill gesture either.

Raise the TTC rate to $2.50, and introduce a 2-hour transfer system (allowing for quick cheaper errands for those who don't own a car), similar to that of Ottawa.

I'd pay the extra 25 cents if they would clean up many of the subway stations, and added more security.

I'd pay the extra 25 cents if they would clean up many of the subway stations, and added more security.

More security? I've never felt unsafe at a Toronto station. Neither have I found them to be that dirty, though I think some of them could use a facelift.