Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities John Baird made it pretty clear to me last month that the March 2011 deadline for completion of stimulus-funded projects is not flexible. “Municipalities who can’t get it done by 2011 should not apply to this fund,” he said. But it seems like those crazy kids have decided to it anyways.
An article in last week’s Ottawa Citizen has Ottawa spokesperson Pat Uguccioni saying the deadine “is not set in stone.” The context for that statement is that a $47-million transportation project may not be finished in time.
I’ve said this before, but I will repeat it: municipalities, think carefully about this. From what I hear, most of the funding is being handed out only once invoices are submitted. That means if that work’s not happening, the cheques won’t get written.
More on this very topic in our upcoming July/August issue as our Ottawa correspondent Guy Felio breaks down the real, long-term cost of new infrastructure.
