For Immediate Release
March 25, 2008

Ontario budget numbers add up to zero for Haldimand
Homeowners, businesses, municipalities shut out

Queen’s Park—Despite their best efforts to convince the Ontario government that long-awaited support for land-dispute impacts is needed immediately, the people, businesses and municipalities of Haldimand are walking away from the 2008 provincial budget table with an empty plate.

“After two-years of sitting on their hands while Haldimand residents suffer the impacts of a land dispute, for government to deliver a provincial budget without acknowledging the need for support is unacceptable!” MPP Toby Barrett exclaimed. “Citizens have testified at pre-budget hearings, the County has submitted a recovery plan, residents have rallied at Queens Park and yet still nothing - I don’t know what more our local residents, businesses and municipalities have to do to get this government’s attention.”

In the last couple of months Haldimand County has submitted its official “Recovery Plan” to the Province requesting a total of $56 million – including $8 million for sewer infrastructure upgrades – and met with Ministry officials at ROMA. Meantime the Caledonia Citizens Alliance appeared before Finance Committee pre-budget hearings, and also prepared, “an alternative document to enhance the County’s proposal.”

“In the vacuum that has been left by two years of government inaction, the people, the businesses, and elected representatives of Haldimand have done the groundwork to ensure the plight of these communities is not overlooked.” explained Barrett. “Today’s budget underscored the fact that in spite of these efforts, it’s the same old story coming from the Ontario Government – zero recovery dollars for residents, businesses and municipalities.”

Barrett says while the budget has been disappointing he remains hopeful that the province’s Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative will announce funding for local recovery projects. According to the government website, all funding announcements for the Infrastructure program will be made no later than March 31, 2008.

-30-

For more information, please contact
MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404, 519-428-0446, or 1-800-903-8629