Addressing Sudbury’s infrastructure deficit

If city council or other political representatives and stakeholders have ideas for shovel ready infrastructure projects, Bob Chiarelli wants to hear them.

He is the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and is working with his ministry on a 10-year infrastructure program.
Chiarelli was at Cambrian College Nov. 9 talking to stakeholders, including representatives from municipal government, businesses and post-secondary institutions.

The final plan will be ready next year.

It is now up to city council to decide on a list of infrastructure projects for funding consideration.

“It follows on the heels of Renew Ontario, which is a recently completed five-year provincial ($30 billion) infrastructure program,” Chiarelli said.

That has been followed by two years of (federal provincial) stimulus funding through which Greater Sudbury received $44 million.

The new program is entirely funded by the province, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said. “It will help recipients leverage other money as well for their projects.”

Mayor John Rodriguez said the city has a huge infrastructure deficit, estimated at more than $500 million.

“We have just come out of an infrastructure program where some of our infrastructure deficit has been addressed,” he said.

“So I appreciate Mr. Chiarelli is here to find out from municipalities where does the government of Ontario need to go with respect to our challenges in infrastructure.”

Because municipalities do not receive a fair share of taxation, but have to provide basic infrastructure for cities to function, they need a permanent infrastructure program, Rodriguez said.

“I would suggest that at the federal level as well.”

Rodriguez noted that a number of roads missed getting funding as part of the current federal provincial stimulus program.

“There were two arterial roads that did not make (the list) — Lorne Street and Regional Road 15,” he said. “We are still waiting on the Building Canada program. That was another federal provincial initiative. There is the Maley Drive Extension. That has not been approved yet.”

How much money could be in the new program? Possibly as much as what has been handed out already. For the six years ending March 31, 2011, the province will have invested $60 billion in infrastructure — $10 billion a year, Chiarelli said. He said he expected that, as the province dealt with its deficit, infrastructure spending could reach these funding levels again.

A major component of the 10-year program is roads, Chiarelli said.

Two city councillors, Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume and Ward 6 Coun. André Rivest have some pet projects in their wards for a city list.

Berthiaume said the outlying areas of the city were left out in the last round of infrastructure programs. He said he would like the province to support four laning MR 35 (Azilda to Chelmsford) rather than create a Hwy 144 bypass, which is currently being planned by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Berthiaume also said Hwy. 144 to Timmins is a dangerous road and needs shoulders. Fixing it would attract more shoppers for the city’s big box stores.

Rivest said the Barrydowne extension needs to be on the list for infrastructure dollars. The environmental assessment for the project will be complete within two years.

Chiarelli said servicing industrial parks would also be eligible for this program.

“I think it is the appropriate time for (industrial park managers) to ask for what they want or need,” he said. “That is exactly what the consultation is for, to find specific requirements geographically.”

This could be welcome news for the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association. Recently, the association’s executive director, Dick DeStefano, said his members required better servicing of industrial parks to expand operations.

Rodriguez noted that the Lively biosolids plant, estimated to cost upwards of $40 million to treat the city’s waste sludge, was also a likely candidate.

Recreation centres are also eligible, Chiarelli said.

“The Howard Armstrong Sports Complex is at capacity during most evenings,” Rivest said. “An expanded facility is needed.”

Even individuals can submit ideas. E-mail [email protected] or fax 416-325-8851.