March 23, 2017 – Paul Morden, The Observer – Wednesday’s federal budget includes funding that could be tapped to help pay for an oversized load corridor in Sarnia.
Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu said the new budget has $31 million designated for trade corridors.
“I did see the minister for infrastructure right after the budget presentation and confirmed with him that it is the right pot,” she said.
“It looks like there is money there.”
Earlier this year, Sarnia city council formally endorsed the business case for creating the dedicated oversized load corridor, at an estimated cost of $11.4 million.
The work would involve permanently raising utility lines, widening and improving roads, and making other improvements along the corridor route to make it easier and less expensive to move large industrial equipment between Sarnia metal fabrication shops, industrial sites and Sarnia Harbour.
A recent business case study said the corridor would pay for itself through new jobs and additional economic activity, by helping to make bids by local metal fabricators more competitive.
It’s hoped local, provincial and federal governments will each pay an equal share of the cost of the work to create the corridor.
“The minister is aware of it, he has verbally said he will support it,” Gladu said.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said a delegation from Sarnia is scheduled to meet in April in Toronto with officials from Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli’s office to continue the effort to secure provincial funding.
“My understanding is that if the province made it a priority on their list of projects for infrastructure funding, the feds would fund it,” Bailey said.
“So now, I guess it’s up to the province here to do their part.”
Bailey, a Progress Conservative MPP, said Chiarelli “is quite anxious to get involved in this.”
The corridor project has been pushed by the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce, the Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership and other community leaders, including the Sarnia-Lambton Industrial Alliance, a group of industrial services and metal fabricating companies in the region.
“He’s has been in the loop for awhile on this,” Bailey said about the Liberal provincial infrastructure minister.
“We’ve been waiting for the federal budget,” Bailey said.
“They’re not asking for a lot of money, really, but it could really spin off.”
Gladu, a Conservative MP, said that aside from the trade corridor funding, she had hoped the budget would include a plan to reduce the federal deficit.
“Looking at the long-term impact of this budget, the finance minister did not commit to getting government spending under control, meaning we will see these types of deficits adding to our national debt well into the future,” Gladu said in a news release.
She also said the budget didn’t mention seniors, or the issues of pay equity and violence against women and girls.
“Spending for science was increased, and funding to increase women in STEM was present as well,” Gladu said.
“The focus will continue to be on clean-tech and agri-food, which are areas where Sarnia-Lambton is growing.”
Gladu said she was also pleased to see funding in the new budget for passenger rail service, shelters, homecare, mental health and affordable housing.
“Although, the amounts appear small in comparison to the need,” she said.
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