Finance committee  It is. That investment is certainly welcome. Much of the social housing that exists in Ontario is old infrastructure and requires large investments in roof replacements, balcony replacements, and so on. So the new investment in the 2006 budget is definitely welcome.

Finance committee  You're referring to the gas tax revenues?

Finance committee  Certainly we're prepared to come to the table with a contribution. We would hope that the provincial government here in Ontario would do the same.

Finance committee  I'm not sure if I understand your question.

Finance committee  No, my reference was to the capital that's required to expand infrastructure and to replace aging infrastructure.

Finance committee  Fundamentally, I think it's the lack of the resources to be able to do that. Property tax doesn't generate adequate revenue for us to be able to make the required capital investments in infrastructure. Here in Ontario we claim—and every study I've seen supports this—that we have

Finance committee  I'll resist the urge to get into a discussion on the first point you made. With respect to COMRIF--

Finance committee  I recognize the fact that transfers to the provinces were cut post-1993. As a result, most of the provinces had to reduce transfers to municipalities and most municipalities had to raise property taxes. The deficit that caused the reduction in transfer programs post-1993 has been

Finance committee  As I indicated in my opening comments, I think healthy communities are essential if we're going to have a prosperous nation. Municipal governments alone can't begin to fund the infrastructure programs that are required for a modern society, so we will continue to require support

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I'm a mayor in the municipality of Southwest Middlesex, a councillor with Middlesex County, and president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. AMO believes that all three orders of government must work together t