MPP JOURNAL for the week of February 26, 2021

David Tilson, MPP Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey

Our Government's Vision for the 21st Century

Our government understands the importance of economic growth and sound planning. That's why we are working hard to ensure that all the people of Ontario will share in an even brighter tomorrow.

At the center of our government's vision for the 21st century is a renewed emphasis on jobs and economic growth. We have been working towards this goal since being elected in 1995 by balancing the provincial budget, cutting taxes and eliminating unnecessary red tape. Only a strong economy can provide us with the resources we need to keep improving our schools, modernizing and investing in our health care system and continue adding to our environmental protection practices.

We also need to continue to expand and modernize our transportation infrastructure. To compete effectively in an increasingly integrated and competitive global marketplace, we require, among other things, a transportation network that is state-of-the-art.

Such a network must include all major forms of transport, air, water, commuter and inter-city rail, as well as roads and highways. Each has a role to play, and each must work in concert with the others.

I believe we worked towards that goal when I was able to present the Town of Orangeville with a cheque for $2 million dollars from the Province of Ontario. This money enabled them to purchase the rail line from Brampton to Dufferin County, securing the future of hundreds jobs and, as important, keeping that rail traffic off our already busy highways.

To compete in this new global marketplace, you need an efficient means of getting your products and services to market. For most businesses, that means modern roads and highways.

That is why, when our government makes plans for the transportation network of the future, we must create and maintain strategic highway corridors that connect important economic centers in Ontario. We know that the Ontario economy is built on trade and Ontario businesses rely on their government providing them with unfettered and unrivalled access to their major markets, inside and outside the province.

The Ministry of Transportation has already begun this reinvestment by upgrading the many provincial highways that flow through our communities. Since 1995, the Ministry of Transportation has reinvested over $44 million dollars into Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey. Highways 9, 10, 25 and 89 have all been upgraded and improved in an attempt to keep our infrastructure up to date.

The Ministry of Transportation is continually planning upgrades for provincial highways in our area. Most recently I participated in MTO discussions regarding their plans for Highway 10 South of Orangeville, in the Town of Caledon.

Many of these infrastructure projects will not be possible without the assistance of private partners who are willing to share in the responsibility for constructing new highways. No government has a monopoly on the resources or expertise required. By working together with our private sector partners, we will help create an even better Ontario - the Ontario we want for the future of our children.

-30-

For further comment/questions David Tilson, MPP

back to MPP Journal