The Ontario PC government released its pre-election budget, with a core theme being big spending on infrastructure.
The budget will serve as its election platform due to the fact that there isn’t enough time to pass it in the legislature before the election campaign begins on May 4.
In the 268-page document, “Building Highways and Key Infrastructure” is one of five pillars in the government’s proposed plan.
Highlights include:
- Planning one of the most ambitious capital plans in the province’s history, with planned investments over the next 10 years totalling $158.8 billion, including $20 billion in 2022–23.
- Investing $25.1 billion over the next 10 years to support the planning and construction of highway projects across the province, including:
- Building Highway 413
- Building the Bradford Bypass
- The first steps to enable the future widening of Highway 401
- Improving the QEW Garden City Skyway
- Continuing the next phase of construction for the new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph
- Reconstructing Highway 101, the Timmins Connecting Link
- Investing $61.6 billion over 10 years for public transit, including:
- Breaking ground on the Ontario Line
- Advancing planning work for the Sheppard Subway Extension
- Planning and design work for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension to Toronto Pearson International Airport
- The Bowmanville GO Rail Extension
- Weekday GO Rail trips between London and Union Station in Toronto
- Passenger rail service to Northeastern Ontario.
Investing about $14 billion in capital grants over the next 10 years to build and renew schools and childcare spaces.
“These critical infrastructure investments reflect an understanding that we must start to build the infrastructure of tomorrow, today.” said Nadia Todorova, executive director of RCCAO. “By building the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413, and transit across the province, the government is acting with welcomed foresight in laying the foundation for Ontario’s long-term continued economic development and prosperity.”
Featured image: Infrastructure spending outlined the Ontario government’s 2022 budget includes breaking ground on the Ontario Line. (Metrolinx photo)
