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2017 |20 idehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 31, Chamber calls on Province to heed infrastructure recommendations David Lea Oalwille Beaver Staff The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Province to do more to close an estimated $19-billion infrastructure gap, which its says hinders Ontario’ path to a Prosperous economy. On Aug. 23, the local Chamber, partnership with the Ontario Chamber Commerce, leased the report, Building Better: Setting the 2017 Ontario Infrastructure Plan Up For Success, which calls on the Ontario government to implement key recommendations in its coming Long-Term Infrastructure Plan (LTIP). TheChamt th d will help ensure accountable planning and the building of resilient, adaptable infrastructure for the future. There is no shortage of need for this action with the Chamber noting that Ontario's harsh business climate combined with relatively stagnant government investment since the 1970s has resulted in the province facing a significant infrastructure gap where an estimated $19 billion is required to improve current infrastructure alone. “Here in Oakville, and across Ontario, John Sawyer there is a need for significant infrastructure spending to fill the current gap — to ensure Oakville is equipped for the future; a future that has very different infrastructure needs from the past,” said John Sawyer, president of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. “To succeed in our constantly evolving our economy.” The Province’s LTIP is expected to be released in the fall. tarios Chamber Network is contributing to the development of the LTIP and has recommended that: government __ brin, fresh accountability methods concerning how infrastructure dollars are spent to ensure spending and planning are transparent; * Governments of all levels should confront challenges of the 21st century by ensuring planning considers how we can build infrastructure that is resilient and adaptable and deals with variables such as climate change; * The Long-Term Infrastructure Plan be strategic, and based on long-term thinking. “We commend the Government of Ontario for their impressive allotment of infrastructure funds; this investment in our province's infrastructure has the potential to yield tremendous benefits for all Ontarians,” said Richard Koroscil, Interim President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “To ensure the Ontario government's economy, we must ensure that i dollars are spent on innovative and forward-looking projects that will grow our province's capacity to do business and grow lo not suffer the same fate as those of federal government, where significant funds have been committed but few projects identified, we hope the Government of Ontario will implement our recommendations, to better strengthen the Province’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan.” Oakville Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy Faye Lyons also weighed in on the matter. “We have heard from our members about the need to invest in crucial transportation infrastructure in Oakville. In fact, the top free infrastructure priorities identified by o1 mbers in our 2016 Advocacy Survey were re local roads and bridges, public parking, and transit,” she sai “This is why we are recommending the provincial government adopt an outcomes- based approach to infrastructure funding with project prioritization based on clear, transparent criteria such as resulting in economic growth, efliciency sustainability and community benefits. Chamber officals s a research has shown that investment in infrastructure, such as roads, transportation, communication, utilities and more, has resulted in lowered business costs and increased labour productivity. They estimate that for every $1 billion in infrastructure spending, 16,700 jobs are supported for one year, and the GDP sees a $1.14 billion increase. SF 21. vou CAN EAT “LUNCH OR DINNER [{ august [= dim sum + sushi LORDER‘A SUSHI BOAT= FOR YOUR.NEXT.PARTY!= 280 North Service Road W.@ Dorval ! 905-338-6228 NAMA Ae Lele [Uits mexe] 10% OFF | Dinner only. ‘ash only & with this ad. eee meee SO OURLEAN SVAN S 8 " \\ \ \\ rie Baseball Mascot will be in store for a meet & 9} ‘Ss: Monday-Friday 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to épm Sunday 10am to 6pm 2394 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON 905-632-9688 WWW. FACTORYSHOFOUTLET.CA