Cooperate to get infrastructure funding earlier says Gerretsen
by Richard Blanchard

Two provincial cabinet ministers told Simcoe County Councillors Tuesday morning that the future direction for the County was in their hands.

Minister of Municipal Affairs John Gerretsen and Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan met with councillors and the mayors of Barrie and Orillia to discuss on-going growth management issues.

Gerretsen told the audience the province was particularly concerned with how growth occurs and its impact on Lake Simcoe and the Nottawasaga River watershed.

He also emphasized the need for improved delivery of services by municipalities. "We support local solutions to local issues and local matters," he said.

Gerretsen said that the province has no wish to impose solutions but an effort to cooperate would impact County municipalities in terms of infrastructure funding.

"I'm asked what if we don't? It will take longer then for capital dollars to come. It is not a threat but we are faced with a lot of demands from all municipalities," Gerretsen explained.

When asked about regional government as the outcome of this growth management study, both ministers said that it was not what the province wanted.

"I'm not talking about a regional government but there is a wish to ensure that we want to provide services better. We are living in a new century," said Gerretsen.

New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern said that he was pleased to hear about the Minister talk about sustainable funding. He noted that the South Simcoe municipalities have already begun to work together in terms of joint servicing.

"We already know that joint servicing can cost less if we work together. We also know that one solution will not fit all municipalities in the County."