“Whereas Eastern Ontario’s small rural municipalities face insurmountable challenges to fund both new growth related infrastructure and ongoing maintenance of their capital assets including local roads and bridges, clean water, wastewater, waste facilities, and municipally owned buildings including recreational facilities and libraries; and
Whereas the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has calculated that Municipal Governments across Canada are responsible for approximately 60 percent of public infrastructure that supports our economy and quality of life, but only receive 10 cents of every tax dollar; and
Whereas the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) region’s capital infrastructure deficit has increased by 58 percent since 2011 and is now at $6 billion, and growing; and
Whereas in 2018, the Ontario Government mandated all Ontario municipalities to develop and fully fund capital asset management plans by July 2025; and
Whereas the EOWC has released a regional Municipal Infrastructure Policy Paper showing key infrastructure data, opportunities and challenges in small rural municipalities across Eastern Ontario; and
Whereas Eastern Ontario is a growing economy that can grow more with sustainable, innovative infrastructure partnership and investment from the Federal and Ontario Governments; and
Whereas the infrastructure deficit for small rural municipalities cannot be adequately addressed through property tax revenue, restricted municipal borrowing capacity, and municipalities limited ability to generate revenue; and
Whereas small rural taxpayers cannot afford dramatic increases to pay for the current and future infrastructure;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved That the Public Works Committee, having considered the correspondence from the EOWC regarding 'Calling for Investment in Municipal Infrastructure for Eastern Ontario's Small and Rural Communities', recommend that County Council joins the EOWC, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and FCM in calling on the Federal and Ontario Governments to immediately and sustainably partner with Municipal Governments by investing in both the new and ongoing maintenance and repairs of municipal infrastructure in Eastern Ontario’s small rural municipalities; and
Further Be It Resolved That the Committee recommend that County Council calls upon the Federal and Ontario Governments to immediately review data and work together to implement solutions based on the EOWC’s Municipal Infrastructure Policy Paper in partnership with small rural municipalities; and
Further Be It Resolved That the Committee recommend that County Council direct staff to send a copy of this resolution to the key stakeholders listed in the EOWC correspondence as well as MP Philip Lawrence (Northumberland—Peterborough South), the Honourable David Piccini (Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and MPP for Northumberland—Peterborough South), and Northumberland County’s 7 Member Municipalities.”