1523 replies to this topic

[martini]

Not sure if this was posted yet:
http://www.timescolo...3049/story.html
Over lunch, Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin nudged Flaherty on the issue of infrastructure funding

Was that the shirt off Dean's back?

[Phil McAvity]

^Hey i'm just glad we got Jim's attention with the bridge, at least he knows what's going on here now.

[VicHockeyFan]

^Hey i'm just glad we got Jim's attention with the bridge, at least he knows what's going on here now.

I agree. If nothing else, maybe Flaherty went back to Baird and said, "hey, if you give the money to Victoria, I know the Mayor there will be happy to make a BIG deal about it, maybe that's money well-spent".

[mat]

From A-Channel today

Money to Replace Victoria Bridge in Doubt
VICTORIA - Provincial money appears to be running out for infrastructure projects in BC and that has local politicians concerned that millions in federal dollars could be left on the table.

Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin says the replacement of the Johnson Street Bridge is a $63 million project that is shovel ready and worthy. To get the more than $20 million in federal money the city must first get the provincial government to contribute the same amount.

BC's Minster of Community and Rural Development Bill Bennett warned today that some communities may be disappointed and would not commit to matching federal stimulus money slated for BC.

Other provinces have already written cheques to fund infrastructure, but the organization representing local governments in BC says the Liberals are falling behind.

Shovel ready? The funding requirements were for projects ready to go in January, and City Vic. submitted a list of projects, all of which are now lost in the bridge and Crystal Pool. I would hope the pool gets the money, but if - and it appears more likely - the bridge replacement project does not get the funds how will Mayor Fortin explain wasting the opportunity for funds on other necessary projects, and landing taxpayers with a bridge replacement that is forging ahead without ANY financial consideration for the full cost.

[martini]

B.C. stimulus projects languish as province slow to ante up
By Darah Hansen, Canwest News Service
September 14, 2009 8:19 PM
http://www.timescolo...3791/story.html

A pothole in Vancouver. B.C. communities eager to repair the roof at the local hockey arena, patch up bumpy roads or improve the sewage system have been forced to sideline their requests, as thousands of potential jobs go unfilled, because B.C is refusing to ante up its share of the funding for a national infrastructure program.

...

[Holden West]

^The way to get us out of an economic downturn is to spend money on infrastructure. Except we can't spend the money because we're in an economic downturn.

I love government.

[spanky123]

Except if you listen to the pundits, Victoria is already out of the economic slump so we don't need the money as badly as other regions!

[Holden West]

Here's Bennett's quote:

Federal Stimulus Cash in Limbo

“The tough times have affected everything, including this program,” Bill Bennett, B.C.'s Minister for Community Development, told reporters yesterday. “We don't have as much money as we thought we were going to have, we're strapped about how much capital we spend. … There will be communities that will be disappointed.”

Later this month [September 28], Mr. Hobson's influential organization [UBCM] will gather for its annual conference, and Premier Gordon Campbell is the keynote speaker.

Mr. Campbell, a former Vancouver mayor, rarely shows up to the influential UBCM gathering without some kind of good-news announcement, and yesterday, his ministers hinted that a deal will be worked out before he steps up to the stage.

Looks like we have two more weeks of waiting.

[VicHockeyFan]

...Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin said the uncertainty over bridge funding is causing the city anxiety. To meet the 2011 completion deadline, the city would have to start work by November.

Meanwhile, without word on the funding, the city will soon have to borrow $63 million for the project without being able to explain to Victoria taxpayers whether they are to be on the hook for the entire $63 million or just one-third.

"We need to ensure we're going out to the public knowing they have a fully informed position. It would be inappropriate for us to go out without having clarification," Fortin said...

http://www.timescolo...4749/story.html

Now that's the first time I have heard the Mayor speak that way. It's encouraging.

[mat]

The quote I loved was from Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard. He is an experienced politician and likely saw the writing on the wall for infrastructure stimulus funding back in July...

To qualify for federal grants, projects must be substantially completed by March 31, 2011. But projects started before funding has been allocated are not eligible.

With a possible federal election on the horizon, any B.C. municipalities counting on infrastructure funds to cover the full two-thirds of a project this year are dreaming, said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard.

"Getting two-thirds of a total project on a stimulus project in B.C. would be a bit of a miracle because you can't start it until you get the grant -- and it's only two-thirds of what you spend up until March 2011. So Houston, we've got a problem," Leonard said.

http://www.timescolo...4749/story.html

[martini]

So Houston, we've got a problem

Because it wasn't rocket science to begin with! We never had a snowball's chance in hell of getting that stimulus money. This project was never shovel ready!
I think Dean took a real gamble and we're going to wind up paying for it!

[Bob Fugger]

Because it wasn't rocket science to begin with! We never had a snowball's chance in hell of getting that stimulus money. This project was never shovel ready!
I think Dean took a real gamble and we're going to wind up paying for it!

There's still time to put a stop to his egomaniacal plan.

[victorian fan]

I'm almost certain I heard that the Feds won't give anything until the Province does.

[martini]

I'm almost certain I heard that the Feds won't give anything until the Province does.

You heard right. I'm sure I have a better chance of winning the 6/49 than the Province funding this.

[Jacques Cadé]

I'm almost certain I heard that the Feds won't give anything until the Province does.

It's actually a requirement of this particular infrastructure program. The province must match the federal contribution, or there's no federal contribution at all.

One scenario that hasn't been raised: What if the province says it can only afford to kick in, say, $5 million? Then you get the worst of all possible worlds: a $53 million bill for Victoria taxpayers (plus $10m from feds and province) and a March 2011 deadline for finishing the bridge.

[VicHockeyFan]

MODS - can we change the title of this thread to maybe read "funding discussion" rather than counter-petition, the current title is a bit too specific.

[VicHockeyFan]

It's actually a requirement of this particular infrastructure program. The province must match the federal contribution, or there's no federal contribution at all.

One scenario that hasn't been raised: What if the province says it can only afford to kick in, say, $5 million? Then you get the worst of all possible worlds: a $53 million bill for Victoria taxpayers (plus $10m from feds and province) and a March 2011 deadline for finishing the bridge.

Ya, I've thought of that. That is a lousy scenario.

[mat]

MODS - can we change the title of this thread to maybe read "funding discussion" rather than counter-petition, the current title is a bit too specific.

Done - although if we go to counter petition on the $63 Million borrowing bylaw it might be appropriate to switch it back.

[Ms. B. Havin]

Response article to UBCM's Hobson's charges, B.C. lags in infrastructure spending, cities charge:

Premier Gordon Campbell says that despite appearances, B.C. is determined to use every federal dollar available to upgrade roads and bridges.

Campbell was responding Tuesday to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) estimate that the province has tapped only one quarter of the $1 billion in federal infrastructure money available to the province.

"B.C. communities have been waiting with their shovel-ready projects for nearly eight months," UBCM president Robert Hobson said in a news release.

"The funding which the federal government has made available to us will not be around indefinitely," Hobson said.

The premier admits it's taking longer than expected for B.C. to come up with its share of money for development projects.

"As you know, we face significant budget challenges. But … we don't intend to leave any federal dollars on the table," Campbell told reporters in Victoria.

"It does take time," Campbell said. "There's questions about how we fund it, not how they fund it."

The B.C. government predicted a $2.8-billion deficit in its latest budget announced Sept. 1, the largest annual shortfall in the province's history.

The federal Infrastructure Stimulus Program is a partnership arrangement, requiring the province to come up with a portion of the funding.

"We expect to have an announcement in the next few weeks," Campbell said.

Municipal leaders hold their annual meeting in two weeks in Vancouver, an event at which the provincial premier traditionally delivers a speech, often one in which significant spending announcements are made.

Ten comments on the article so far.

[mat]

There are now 5 PAGES of replies - 99% slamming Campbell.