Finance Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

I'll continue with Mr. Wallace as our final questioner. You have about five minutes.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I appreciate everyone coming this morning. I'm volunteering to take a spot on this committee, so I haven't heard some of the delegation.

I have four really quick questions so that I can get them all into five minutes.

Mr. Mayor, I also come from the municipal sector in Ontario. I've read your presentation. What is your definition of “long term”? I couldn't figure that out from your presentation. You don't like the four- or five-year approach to the gas tax. What's your long-term view of infrastructure, and do you not think there are enough infrastructure projects to soak up that money?

[Jim Eglinski]

When I look at long term, I look at a community being planned for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years down the road. It makes it very difficult if we can't look at that funding with an idea of getting it. I'll give you an example.

We applied for an infrastructure grant to improve our city hall. It took eight years before they finally came back and said no. It would have been much nicer if they had said no right at the beginning. Then we could have probably looked at--

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

So from a process point of view, getting the answer quicker, either yes or no, would be more efficient.

[Jim Eglinski]

That's correct.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

It's not necessarily that the project is going to take eight years to build; it's just that you need an answer more quickly. Is that correct?

[Jim Eglinski]

We need an answer quicker because with the demands on industry, the costs go up almost a quarter each year if it's a major project. It really affects our communities.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Mackay, I read your submission on the college and it was very interesting. You left us with four priorities on page 6--you called them key components. Which one is the top priority?

[Stu Mackay]

I would go with number one. We need to look at a serious strategy for funding post-secondary education that allows for its renewal.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Do you have the dollar figure difference between the 1993-94 level and what it is today, including inflation?

[Stu Mackay]

I think it's around $40 billion.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Is that the difference across the country?

[Stu Mackay]

Yes.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. Throssell, as you know, the Conservative government has committed not only money going directly to parents but also 125,000 new spaces over five years. Has your organization sent a submission to the minister on what you would like to see the ministry doing to help create those 125,000 spaces?

[Debbie Throssell]

I don't believe so.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Is there any intent to do so?

[Debbie Throssell]

We only got this a little over a week ago, so we're a little bit behind. But I'm sure--

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

You got the notice for this actual session.

[Debbie Throssell]

Yes.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

But you are aware that we are working on a program to create 125,000 spaces, to make that happen. Is your organization aware of that?

[Debbie Throssell]

We are aware of it. Our only concern is that all these spaces are going to be provided, but who is going to be there to work?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

So your issue, then, if I'm reading through the lines correctly, is partly about spaces being created, but you also want people to be paid more to actually work there, and that's how you're going to attract employees. Is that correct?

[Debbie Throssell]

The biggest problem in day care is that you're not able to retain your workers. Day care has the most turnover of workers than I think any other sector. So we need to encourage people to stay in that field.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I'm going to ask Karen a question, if I may. Is that all right?

You actually were the only one, I thought, who brought an idea about tax cutting out of the group. Not necessarily that I agree with it, but at least you brought an idea, which I thought was great. I enjoyed your presentation, and I'd like a copy of it, if I could get it. I'm sure we all get copies of it, right?

[Karen Baltgailis]

I think they've made copies of it.