Jones: $3 Billion of Infrastructure Spending was Left on the Table

(Queen’s Park) – Today, Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin-Caledon asks the Minister of Infrastructure why he failed to spend nearly $3.3 billion of the infrastructure budget in 2016-2017.

“According to Public Accounts documents, the government failed to invest nearly 20% of promised infrastructure spending,” Jones said.

“Ontarians expect the government to deliver on their promises, but time and time again, they do not get the job done. All-day two-way GO to Kitchener; developing the Ring of Fire; GO Service to Niagara, to name a few,” Jones said.

“The government makes announcements but fails to actually deliver the projects.   It’s clear that the government is more interested in making promises than building roads, hospitals, and transit,” Jones said.

“The communities in Dufferin-Caledon are looking for investments in projects: sewage waterworks, an advanced green at Highway 89 and 124, GO service to Shelburne and Bolton, yet the government did not spend $3 billion that was allocated in the 2016 budget” Jones said.

“I have asked the minister to table a list of projects that were expected but not started in 2016-2017,” Jones said.

“The Minister response was disappointing because that he chose to blame federal and municipals partners rather than explaining why $3.3 billion wasn’t spent on needed infrastructure projects,” Jones said.