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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TORONTO – Today Oxford MPP and Progressive Conservative Critic for Municipal Affairs Ernie Hardeman called on the McGuinty government to stop ignoring the 150 municipalities who have indicated they are unable to wait the 18 months for the Provincial-Municipal Funding Review. “So far 150 municipalities from across Ontario have stepped forward to tell the McGuinty government that 18 months is too long and they want it completed more expediently,” said Hardeman “They have made it clear that while the government drags their feet, ratepayers are facing tax hikes, infrastructure is crumbling and services are declining.” Hardeman expressed that he expects the issue of the need for the review to be completed earlier to be a big topic of discussion as municipal politicians gather at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association/Ontario Good Roads Conference taking place from Sunday February 25 to Wednesday February 28 in Toronto. On August 14, 2006 the McGuinty government announced the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service delivery review which will not be completed for 18 months, until after the next provincial election. Since the last review was completed almost ten years ago the cost of delivering Municipal services has increased substantially and provincial transfers have not kept pace. In September the Ontario Legislature passed Hardeman’s private members’ resolution calling on the McGuinty government to complete the review more expediently. Since that time 150 municipalities have passed resolutions calling on the McGuinty government to complete the review expediently to avoid hitting taxpayers with large unsustainable tax hikes. It includes municipalities from all parts of Ontario and from small to large. “McGuinty has been stalling on this review to try and stretch it out until after the next election,” said Hardeman. “When you take four months to have your first meeting there is no justifiable way to claim that you are doing the review expediently. - 30 -
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