Mayor Bevilacqua responds to Federal Budget
Vaughan is working with
government partners to deliver real results for citizens
Mayor
Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement in response to the 2019 federal
budget:
“Budget 2019 — Investing in the Middle Class
aligns with the transformational work that is currently underway in Vaughan. It
presents a series of important nation-building initiatives to advance the
city-building priorities for our community.
“Vaughan
enjoys a strong and productive relationship with the federal government. Working
together, we continue to secure new investments to continue building our city,
while at the same time reducing the burden on hardworking taxpayers.
“We
welcome the government’s commitment of $2.2 billion to municipalities through
the federal Gas Tax. For Vaughan, this means an anticipated investment of more
than $18 million. This funding will be dedicated to modernizing critical
infrastructure like our extensive network of roads, bridges and highways. These
corridors link Vaughan to the Toronto Region and to important international
trade gateways. Our competitive economy relies on this network to move goods,
services and people forward.
“Vaughan
and other municipalities will further benefit from the federal government’s $180
billion Investing in Canada infrastructure
plan. We look forward to securing additional investments to get shovels in the
ground, people working and projects completed.
“As a Smart
City, we welcome plans to expand broadband Internet. During my 2019 keynote
address to the business community at the annual Vaughan Chamber of Commerce’s
Luncheon, I announced that the City signed an agreement with Bell Canada to
bring next-generation fibre optic broadband network connectivity to every home
and business in Vaughan.
“I am
encouraged by proposed changes aimed at giving more people a greater
opportunity to purchase a home. Vaughan is a city of choice. Families dream of
starting a life here. We continue to build a future where no one is left
behind. We have several mixed-use developments currently being planned or
underway in communities like the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, our emerging
downtown core.
“The
introduction of a Housing Supply
Challenge mirrors the efforts already underway in Vaughan. We have shown
leadership on this issue by teaming with other levels of government to ensure
more affordable housing gets built. We also approved a secondary suites policy,
resulting in more people having a place to call home.
“On the
same day the federal government presented its budget, Council approved our
City’s Service Excellence Strategic Plan – a roadmap that will guide our
efforts over the current 2018-2022 Term of Council bringing into focus the high-level
expectations we share for our city. We have a renewed focused to address
important initiatives, including: transportation and mobility; environmental
stewardship; active, safe and diverse communities; and economic prosperity,
investment and social capital.
“We know
that by working together with our federal partners, not only can we meet those
expectations – we can exceed them. Our residents see progress and growth being
undertaken all around them. We have a subway connected
to the heart of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre; Canada’s first
state-of-the-art smart hospital, Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, will soon be
complete; we recently welcomed Niagara University, the first university in
Vaughan and York Region; and Phase One of the new 900-acre North Maple Regional
Park is complete. These are among the most notable city-building initiatives being
realized in Vaughan – all while achieving $30 million in savings since 2015.
“Sound
public finances, fiscal transparency and Service Excellence have been
fundamental to our success and remain integral to our plans for the future. Building
upon this strong fiscal foundation, I will continue working with Council, our
valued government partners, as well as the broader community to keep driving
this city forward.”
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