Wow What a Provincial Budget For Windsor

We heard it in the Provincial Budget. AGAIN. {yawn}

• "Another key component of ReNew Ontario is the investment in the Province’s border infrastructure.
  
  Under the plan, the first priority is increasing capacity at the Windsor corridor."

Here is what the Province is going to do for us respecting the border crossing matter as outlined in its latest Budget document:







Now if you were Mayor of Windsor, wouldn't you be shocked and dismayed. Of course you would. Here is what Eddie said:






The silence is overwhelming isn't it. Tells you that something is up doesn't it except we poor taxpayers cannot be trusted to know what it is until the right time for the Provincial election.

And you did not think there was a deal between Eddie and the Province as I said on here before.

I have to admit though that Eddie is a quick-learn. He may have realized that he hitched his wagon to the wrong horse and is trying to change in mid-stream by trying to make friends with the Feds since they hold the cash. Here is what he said after the Federal budget:

• "Mayor Eddie Francis applauded the budget, calling it the first time since the border traffic debate began in 2002, that Windsor was clearly identified by the finance minister in a federal budget.
  
  This has been identified with dollars attached to it instead of a casual reference,” he said. “Instead of just talking about it, they have clearly identified it as a line item.”

There is a reason for this. The Province is dependent on the Feds for $$$ and needs to get some or else most of the money will be spent in BC to improve the Asia-Pacific Gateway. This was part of the Budget documents too:

• Borders, Gateways and Trade Corridors
  
  Another key component of ReNew Ontario is the investment in the Province’s border infrastructure. Through this plan, the government has devoted over $800 million to increasing efficiency and capacity at Ontario’s borders. Under the plan, the first priority is increasing capacity at the Windsor corridor.
  
  This investment includes the $300 million Let’s Get Windsor–Essex Moving Strategy, which provides for infrastructure improvements in the Windsor–Detroit Gateway. The Windsor Border Initiatives Implementation Group has been established to take responsibility for the implementation of Phases I and II of the strategy. In addition, over $200 million is planned to widen Highway 401 between Tilbury and Windsor, improving the traffic flow of the Windsor Gateway.
  
  Ontario is also collaborating with the federal government and Quebec to establish a North America Gateway Strategy. There is a need for an integrated set of investment and policy measures to facilitate the movement of people and goods between Canada and the United States, between eastern Canada and the Pacific region, and between Canada and trading partners around the globe.
  
  Central to this is establishing the North America Gateway — a transportation infrastructure system encompassing Ontario and Quebec —as the best transportation network for global supply chains between Canada and the rest of the world. Given its national significance, this strategy must be a key component of the emerging federal gateway strategy and strongly aligned with the federal government’s Asia-Pacific Gateway Strategy.
  
  For the North America Gateway Strategy to achieve its full potential, long-term federal funding is necessary."