Toronto rolls out $1.6B capital budget plan
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Now is not the time to cut infrastructure spending, Mayor David Miller said yesterday at the rollout of Toronto's $1.6 billion capital budget.
"It's very clear at a time of economic uncertainty such as this, governments should be investing, particularly in the infrastructure that helps build a strong economy."
Miller welcomed the appointment of John Baird as federal infrastructure minister, saying he hoped the appointment "is a signal from the federal government that they share that view, that it is time to invest in Canada's aging infrastructure."
But the capital budget itself hit a few potholes over its failure to reduce the $310 million road-repair backlog. An extra $21 million has been earmarked but that will only keep the backlog from growing, said city manager Joe Pennachetti.