Reaction to recent infrastructure funding announcements could not have been more varied in southeastern Wellington last week.
Puslinch council was very pleased on Feb. 18 with over $1.4-million in federal and provincial funding for a proposed $2.15-million multi-use recreational facility in Aberfoyle park.
And Guelph-Eramosa council seemed ecstatic the previous evening, after receiving News of $4.13-million in funding to help build a $6.2-million recreational facility in Marden Park.
But in neighbouring Erin, disbelief and frustration dominated the discussion on Feb. 17.
“We satisfied all the criteria,” said Roads Superintendent Larry Van Wyck. “I just can not explain why we didn’t get any money.”
The town had applied for an $800,000 replacement of a single lane bridge on the 5th Line, about 1.5km north of County Road 124. Van Wyck said the bridge is structurally deficient and places the travelling public at risk due to its limited width.
Five of seven lower tier municipalities in Wellington County received money through the Building Canada Fund, with grants ranging from $1.1- to $4.1-million.
And a sixth – Centre Wellington – will benefit from $1.24-million in funding to replace a county bridge in that municipality.
That leaves Erin as the only municipality in the county not directly benefitting from the Building Canada Fund.
Van Wyck told council he originally heard 85% of applications were accepted, but later found out Erin was one of only 11 unsuccessful municipalities in Ontario.
And this isn’t the first time that’s happened. The town was also shut out of several other federal and provincial funding initiatives over the last few years, including the 2008 Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative, which Van Wyck said is frustrating.
“This is public money and it’s unfortunate it’s not flowing into the Town of Erin,” he said.
Councillor Barb Tocher suggested a “fact seeking mission” with Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), to which Van Wyck added it wouldn’t hurt to also talk with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal.
“How someone can quantify that an indoor or outdoor recreation facility is more important than a deficient bridge is unbelievable,” he said. “And that’s essentially what happened here.”
Van Wyck also told council Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott was surprised Erin was left out of last week’s announcement and offered his support.
“I share their disappointment,” Arnott said in an interview on Monday. “I believe Erin’s infrastructure needs are as important as anyone else’s … And I’m certainly willing to go to bat for them and demand answers and ask questions.”
Arnott sent a letter on Feb. 20 to Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman, who is among several ministers Arnott hopes to speak with in person at this week’s conference hosted by the Ontario Good Roads Association and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association.
“There are a number of provincial ministers involved [in the Building Canada Fund] and unfortunately it’s hard to get any of them to take any responsibility when a municipality is left out like this,” Arnott noted.
As of Monday, Arnott had not received any response, but he has asked Smitherman’s staff to come to Erin and conduct a full debriefing.
“It is not equitable for some municipalities to be awarded funding year after year, while other deserving municipalities continue to be awarded nothing,” Arnott said in his letter.
The MPP told The Advertiser he will continue to lobby the provincial government for fair, annual provincial gas tax funding for municipalities. Currently, portions of provincial gas tax revenue are only provided to larger municipalities with public transit systems.
Councillor John Brennan said the town should do everything in its power to find out why it is getting snubbed in funding announcements.
“I believe we should take whatever steps we can to be a squeaky wheel,” Brennan said.
Mayor Rod Finnie replied that it is a fine line and Erin does not want to come off as “too squeaky” and annoy people. Tocher agreed and said it is important for the town to take a non-antagonistic approach.
Council agreed meetings with OMAFRA and public infrastructure officials, as well as MP Michael Chong, are needed.
