Infrastructure in Niagara-on-the-Lake meant to prevent storm and wastewater damage isn’t cutting it — that’s the opinion of residents whose properties suffered from flooding this summer, as well as one NOTL councillor who says higher levels of government should do more to foot the bill for necessary improvements.
“I think that the whole council realizes that the current infrastructure needs to be updated and maintained, not only for the amount of rain water we are getting but also for its age,” Coun. Sandra O’Connor told The Lake Report.
A big problem, she said, is government not investing properly in municipalities when it comes to essential services.
“Over the last couple of decades, the federal and provincial governments have really reduced their funding for infrastructure for municipalities,” she said.
O’Connor will be asking NOTL town council to back a Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ initiative to push the federal government to increase infrastructure funding, she said.
“(The federation) sent a motion to all municipalities to get their support and I actually have a motion coming to council in September with regards to supporting their initiative for the need for more infrastructure (money) for municipalities,” she said.
Two intense summer storms, on June 18 and July 10, did a tremendous amount of damage to homes and property in NOTL after infrastructure failures.
Stormwater ponds filled, ditches and culverts overflowed onto streets and rural roads, and basements were filled with sewage after waste water lines failed.
Back in July, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities published a written submission to the federal government as part of consultations ahead of next year’s budget, signed by federation president Geoff Stewart.
It details the organization’s recommendations on a number of issues — infrastructure, with specific references to water, wastewater, climate change and disaster mitigation, was number three on his list.
Stewart recommends “that the federal government partner with local governments to address the urgent water and wastewater infrastructure gap and fully implement the national adaptation strategy to address growing risks from climate change and extreme weather.”
“Additionally,” the statement continued, “municipalities need long-term funding for disaster mitigation, adaptation and natural infrastructure, while supporting resilient, low-carbon housing and communities.”
O’Connor believes that there will be some political motivation on the part of government to provide municipalities with the increased funds needed to maintain safe and healthy communities.
“With elections looming, I think this would be something that they would be interested in supporting, and that’s what we’re hoping for,” she said.
The next fixed federal election date is Oct. 20, 2025.
