For nearly 20 minutes Thursday, Ontario’s finance minister shared his government’s approach to safeguard workers and boost the economy.
Yet, there was no mention of Ottawa in that speech.
“They’ve promised to upload Highway 174. They’ve promised to upload the LRT, they’re in the process of funding a massive new hospital expansion,” said Liberal Stephen Blais, who represents Orléans.
“There’s a real sense that, you know, whether it’s the convoy, whether it’s investments in infrastructure, these long-promised uploads, that they just do not care about Ottawa,” said Ottawa West-Nepean NDP MPP Chandra Pasma.
“I don’t know whether it’s that they can’t remember that we’re part of Ontario, or if there’s some kind of grudge that the premier holds against Ottawa.”
The nation’s capital – home to more than a million people – did see around a dozen mentions in the full written fall economic statement, including Highway 417 overpass replacements, investments in long-term care and expanding or building schools.
Plans for that new Civic hospital were noted (but not the overall cost after it was questioned earlier this week.)
The provincial update was rather overshadowed by Canada’s ties with the U. S. and forecasts of a larger-than-expected financial deficit this year.
WATCH | What’s in Ontario’s economic update for Ottawa:
What’s in Ontario’s economic update for Ottawa?
Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented the province’s fiscal update Thursday. Rachelle Elsiufi spoke with him about what those in the Ottawa area can anticipate.
The annual savings for the city from transferring Ottawa’s light rail system were pledged early last year. They were key points during Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s transit promises made during his campaign.
Sutcliffe has stated it would save $85 million each year.
The deal concerning Highway 174 announced in 2024 would also release funds for the city – while shifting costs to the province.
Although an LRT agreement was reached in April, Blais remarked it doesn’t mean much beyond confirming both parties have “agreed to talk about something.”
“If those projects aren’t significant enough for the government of Ontario to be mentioning in the fall economic statement, how close are they to [being] realized?” he questioned.
Ontario Liberal MPP Stephen Blais at Queen’s Park in June. The representative for part of east Ottawa is raising questions about how much or how little the city is valued by the governing PCs. (Nathan Denette/ )
No timeline on uploads
When asked Thursday how near Ottawa and Ontario are to finalizing a deal, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy mentioned he “can’t put a time limit on it.”
“I know our minister is and his team of transportation is doing their due diligence along with the city so that takes time,”he added.“It’s something they’re working on and of course today was an economic update and fiscal update. I’ll obviously have more details during budget.”
Highway 174 near Trim Road and Trim transit station in east Ottawa late September. (Michel Aspirot/CBC)
Ottawa’s mayor wasn’t available for comment Thursday evening.
In an email statement sent out by Sutcliffe he mentioned he remains closely engaged with Ontario’s government regarding these “important files.”
“These ongoing discussions with Province wouldn’t necessarily be expected specifically addressed within Fall Economic Statement,” Sutcliffe wrote via email.
Pasma argued even if uploads had been discussed she still isn’t convinced it would mean anything significant noting “talk is cheap” pointing out “they’ll just keep repeating talk but won’t actually deliver anything meaningful.”
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