Steeltown
July 16th, 2005, 10:00 PM
Harbour millions just a blink away
Governments poised to give cash for big cleanup, $75 million
The federal and provincial governments are just a hair’s breath away from giving the city $50 million for cleaning up Hamilton Harbour, The Spectator has learned.
A funding announcement, involving a partnership deal in which cleanup costs are evenly split between the three levels of government, is imminent.
At $50 million, that means Hamilton would have to kick in $25 million of its own for a total harbour remediation package of $75 million.
The city’s share is already set aside in its capital budget for water and sewer infrastructure.
The federal and provincial money would flow from their respective infrastructure ministries under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
The city applied to that program for help in improving harbour water quality and environmental conditions about a year ago.
Jim Harnum, city director of water and wastewater, says the money would allow the city to initiate programs to meet the Remedial Action Plan’s target for removing the harbour from the list of Great Lakes pollution hot spots by 2015.
Harnum says programs would likely include building more combined sewer overflow tanks, installing new buffering systems for controlling untreated waste from entering the harbour during storms, and upgrades to the city’s wastewater facility at Woodward Avenue.
But officials are reluctant to say it’s a done deal.
Chris Phillips, senior adviser to Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri, said $75 million is on the table and Valeri has been working hard to land the agreement for almost a year.
“All I can say is we’re cautiously optimistic that the three parties have come together, we’re certainly working on what we can do, and a decision should be imminent.”
Wilson Lee, spokesperson for provincial Public Infrastructure Renewal Minister David Caplan, says a harbour remediation announcement is expected before the end of summer, but declines to put a dollar value on it.
Regional cabinet minister Marie Bountrogianni will say little more than she’s optimistic and knows that Caplan himself is “incredibly supportive” of the proposal.
Mayor Larry Di Ianni is on a business trip to China and unavailable for comment.
The mayor’s executive assistant, Mario Joannette, won’t confirm $75 million is coming, but he’s hopeful.
“All levels of government have worked hard to make this a reality.”
It’s not clear over what period of time the millions would flow.
Harnum, stressing he doesn’t know how much money is on the way, notes the city originally went to senior governments with a proposal for a $330 million three-way split over 10 years, but scaled back the request with an eye to future applications.
The total cleanup cost of the harbour is estimated to be about $650 million.
Harnum figures that over the past 10 years the city has spent about $160 million on sewer and water upgrades to revive the harbour and already has plans in the capital budget for spending another $180 million.
He says the scouring not only makes environmental sense, but will result in social and economic benefits for the city by making it a more attractive community to live and invest in.
But the harbour isn’t the city’s only infrastructure need on government radar screens.
It’s believed the harbour proposal is part of a broader package that includes a funding partnership for servicing the North Glanbrook Industrial and Business Park, where Maple Leaf Foods is considering moving its Burlington plant. That could involve a three-way split of more than $20 million.
Phillips, Valeri’s right hand man, is already on record saying his boss has been pressing to land servicing money for the business park.
And Lee in Caplan’s office acknowledges that a larger infrastructure package for Hamilton is being discussed by the three levels of government.
“Frankly, I do think we’re all heading in the same direction and that’s towards supporting the critical infrastructure needs of Hamilton,” he said.
That must be music to city council’s ears.
“This is about two key issues in Hamilton being addressed,” said Joannette. “One being the environmental cleanup of Hamilton Harbour. The other is finding shovel-ready land for industry to move into and all the benefits that come from that.
“I think creatively we’ve worked together with the province and the federal government. We’ve advocated strongly for these needs and I’m hopeful our answer is soon to come.”
Governments poised to give cash for big cleanup, $75 million
The federal and provincial governments are just a hair’s breath away from giving the city $50 million for cleaning up Hamilton Harbour, The Spectator has learned.
A funding announcement, involving a partnership deal in which cleanup costs are evenly split between the three levels of government, is imminent.
At $50 million, that means Hamilton would have to kick in $25 million of its own for a total harbour remediation package of $75 million.
The city’s share is already set aside in its capital budget for water and sewer infrastructure.
The federal and provincial money would flow from their respective infrastructure ministries under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
The city applied to that program for help in improving harbour water quality and environmental conditions about a year ago.
Jim Harnum, city director of water and wastewater, says the money would allow the city to initiate programs to meet the Remedial Action Plan’s target for removing the harbour from the list of Great Lakes pollution hot spots by 2015.
Harnum says programs would likely include building more combined sewer overflow tanks, installing new buffering systems for controlling untreated waste from entering the harbour during storms, and upgrades to the city’s wastewater facility at Woodward Avenue.
But officials are reluctant to say it’s a done deal.
Chris Phillips, senior adviser to Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri, said $75 million is on the table and Valeri has been working hard to land the agreement for almost a year.
“All I can say is we’re cautiously optimistic that the three parties have come together, we’re certainly working on what we can do, and a decision should be imminent.”
Wilson Lee, spokesperson for provincial Public Infrastructure Renewal Minister David Caplan, says a harbour remediation announcement is expected before the end of summer, but declines to put a dollar value on it.
Regional cabinet minister Marie Bountrogianni will say little more than she’s optimistic and knows that Caplan himself is “incredibly supportive” of the proposal.
Mayor Larry Di Ianni is on a business trip to China and unavailable for comment.
The mayor’s executive assistant, Mario Joannette, won’t confirm $75 million is coming, but he’s hopeful.
“All levels of government have worked hard to make this a reality.”
It’s not clear over what period of time the millions would flow.
Harnum, stressing he doesn’t know how much money is on the way, notes the city originally went to senior governments with a proposal for a $330 million three-way split over 10 years, but scaled back the request with an eye to future applications.
The total cleanup cost of the harbour is estimated to be about $650 million.
Harnum figures that over the past 10 years the city has spent about $160 million on sewer and water upgrades to revive the harbour and already has plans in the capital budget for spending another $180 million.
He says the scouring not only makes environmental sense, but will result in social and economic benefits for the city by making it a more attractive community to live and invest in.
But the harbour isn’t the city’s only infrastructure need on government radar screens.
It’s believed the harbour proposal is part of a broader package that includes a funding partnership for servicing the North Glanbrook Industrial and Business Park, where Maple Leaf Foods is considering moving its Burlington plant. That could involve a three-way split of more than $20 million.
Phillips, Valeri’s right hand man, is already on record saying his boss has been pressing to land servicing money for the business park.
And Lee in Caplan’s office acknowledges that a larger infrastructure package for Hamilton is being discussed by the three levels of government.
“Frankly, I do think we’re all heading in the same direction and that’s towards supporting the critical infrastructure needs of Hamilton,” he said.
That must be music to city council’s ears.
“This is about two key issues in Hamilton being addressed,” said Joannette. “One being the environmental cleanup of Hamilton Harbour. The other is finding shovel-ready land for industry to move into and all the benefits that come from that.
“I think creatively we’ve worked together with the province and the federal government. We’ve advocated strongly for these needs and I’m hopeful our answer is soon to come.”