Orléans West-Innes Coun. Laura Dudas says she did a little fist pump last week when the city and the Ontario government unveiled a wide-ranging funding plan for the national capital.
The deal, which promises $543 million over 10 years for transit, housing, public safety and downtown revitalization, also includes a pledge that Ontario will take over the operation and maintenance of Highway 174.
“This is huge,” said Dudas, whose ward the highway cuts through.
Catherine Kitts, councillor for the neighbouring Orléans South-Navan ward, agreed.
The transfer of responsibility for the east-end highway is something politicians have been requesting “for a long time,” she said, noting the road’s approximate annual operating bill of $1 million.
The province’s immediate offer of $9 million in maintenance money for the highway “frees up property tax dollars for other projects,” Kitts added.
‘Finally’ addressing city’s needs, says Crombie
But not everyone was doing cartwheels over the deal, which also includes money for hiring more police officers, opening a “police neighbourhood operations centre” in the ByWard Market area, emergency shelters, and the design and construction of an interchange on Highway 416 in the suburbs.
“I’m glad the provincial government has realized Ottawa’s in Ontario and [is] finally coming to address some of their needs,” Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said during a news conference.
But Liberal MPP Stephen Blais, who represents the riding of Orléans, had already pitched the idea of uploading Highway 174 to the province, Crombie said.
“So, you’re welcome,” she said, directing her words at the provincial government.
While any money for a municipality is welcome, Crombie also noted the deal didn’t set aside additional funding for OC Transpo’s substantial deficit.
Ottawa South MPP John Fraser, who served as the party’s interim leader before Crombie was elected, said Ottawa got shortchanged compared to the deal the province announced last year with Toronto.
“If you look at it on a per-capita basis, it doesn’t compare,” Fraser said.
NDP MPP Joel Harden, who represents Ottawa Centre, said in a news release that while the deal’s focus on the city’s downtown is promising, Premier Doug Ford’s visit to Ottawa to make the announcement was conspicuous.
“This is, after all, the same premier who abandoned us during the convoy occupation of February 2022,” Harden said.
Money for Kanata North Transitway too
Under the deal, the Ford government is also promising up to $80 million to cover a third of the cost for the proposed Kanata North Transitway, a corridor project that’s contingent on federal funding.
If the federal government doesn’t come up with matching funds the Transitway project, the province’s $80 million would go toward other transportation projects.
Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower said Kanata North area is a big employment hub.
He said the city hears “often” from business owners about the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff because of transportation challenges in the area.
It’s too soon to say how the province’s $80 million should be spent, Gower added, should the federal government not put up its portion.
While Ford and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also called on the federal government to “do its part to help revitalize the downtown economy,” the deal also makes a number of demands on Ottawa too, including opening up land for housing development.