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Thursday March 17, 2016

March 16, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 17, 2016

‘Free’ tuition in Ontario doesn’t mean there are no costs to students

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she worries about her government pitching a new student grant program as providing “free” tuition, because there are caveats.

The Liberal government announced in its recent budget that it is combining existing programs to create an Ontario Student Grant, which would pay for average college or university tuition for students from families with incomes of $50,000 or less.

But in a question-and-answer session with student leaders on Tuesday, Wynne was asked why the program is being marketed as free tuition, when students who qualify would still incur some costs.

It is expected that students will still pay $3,000 toward their overall costs, such as living expenses, to supplement the tuition grant.

“I have worried about the same thing, that it’s free with some explanation required,” she said. “I think at the same time, if we’re talking about tuition, average tuition, the grant will cover that, so that will be free.”

The language around the new grant will likely “evolve,” she said.

The $3,000 figure was arrived at because staff determined it was a “reasonable amount” that a student could make at a summer job, the premier said.

Under the new program, half of students from families with incomes of $83,000 will qualify for non-repayable grants to cover their tuition and no student will receive less than they can currently receive.

The government is defining average college tuition as $2,768 and average university tuition as $6,160, for arts and science programs.

Wynne conceded the Ontario Student Grant is targeted at full-time, not part-time, students.

“I don’t think we actually have the plan for part-time students that we need,” she said. “There are some supports in place through the Canada Student Assistance Grants, but I think that there’s more that we have to do.”

She also acknowledged there are calls from some corners for free tuition for every student. Wynne said she was open to the discussion, but at the moment the government can pay for the new student grant through combining several programs and eliminating some tax credits.

“In an ideal world we might actually move there,” she said. “I don’t know at this point how we would do that.” (Canadian Press)

Friday, August 7, 2015

August 6, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, August 7, 2015

first phase of the LRT may also connect to waterfront

The latest twist in Hamilton’s long-running LRT saga leads straight to the waterfront.

Two months ago, Premier Kathleen Wynne surprised city politicians with a $1-billion promise to build light rail transit along the King Street corridor — with the caveat it must link to the new James Street GO station via an unplanned spur line.

Now, a city report outlining the next steps for the ambitious project suggests the north-south spur line could be extended all the way to the waterfront.

That’s the “ideal vision,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who cautioned Metrolinx has yet to weigh in on the notion or cost of extending the spur beyond the west harbour GO Station.

“I think the spur line makes all sorts of sense, given what we have in mind for the waterfront, and in my mind it’s doable.”

“I think it makes all sorts of sense, given what we have in mind for the waterfront, and in my mind it’s doable,” he said after the city released a LRT update report Wednesday.

The city is working furiously to prepare for a hoped-for $500 million development boom on piers 7 and 8, including up to 1,600 housing units and new commercial space.

Originally, the city asked for $811 million to build a 14-kilometre, east-west line running along the “B-line” transit corridor between McMaster University and Eastgate Square.

But the province signed off on a shortened line ending at the Queenston traffic circle to cover the added cost of a link to the GO station. The section east of the traffic circle is identified as an unfunded “phase two” project.

Extending the spur line to add a waterfront stop — almost a kilometre beyond the GO station — would fulfil part of the city’s long-term vision for a north-south “A line” rapid transit route from the harbour to the airport, noted city spokesperson Mike Kirkopoulos. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Friday May 15, 2015

May 14, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 15, 2015

Province set to unveil LRT game-changer for Hamilton

The province is close to announcing a game-changing commitment to light rail transit in Hamilton, The Spectator has learned.

Sources at both levels of government say a transit funding commitment is imminent — perhaps as early as next week — but hinges on overcoming serious logistical hurdles.

The LRT waiting game gallery

A spokesperson for Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca wouldn’t comment on the specific timing or substance of the anticipated announcement, but promised the minister “will be in the city in the coming weeks to discuss what Ontario’s … transit and transportation infrastructure plan means for the residents of Hamilton.”

The province wants to green-light part or all of the city’s requested $811-million LRT line — but potentially deal-breaking details still need to be nailed down, said sources who didn’t want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

A transit garage and GO expansion have also been discussed as additional or alternative announcements. If all goes well, a visit is expected any time between next week and early June.

Premier Kathleen Wynne raised eyebrows when she spoke in the legislature about the importance of working with Hamilton to “build that LRT.”

She later corrected the record to say she meant “rapid transit.”

The city asked for both $811 million for LRT and $302 million for express buses and a maintenance facility in advance of the provincial budget.

Sources say a critical question is whether there’s enough cash to build LRT all the way from McMaster University to Eastgate Square — especially given the province is insisting on a spur-line connecting to at least one GO station. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Tuesday January 27, 2015

January 26, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 27, 2015

Premier Wynne guarantees Hamilton LRT funding: mayor

Ontario’s premier has committed to pay 100 per cent of capital costs for Hamilton’s LRT project no matter the final price tag.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger met with Premier Kathleen Wynne Monday to talk transit for the first time since his reelection.

Wynne has vowed 100 per cent capital funding for Hamilton rapid transit during the election, but never specified a project or timeline.

But in a recorded media scrum after Monday’s meeting Eisenberger said he received “confirmation from the premier that they are still … committed to 100 per cent funding for LRT,” later adding “That’s a stronger commitment than I’ve heard from the province in a long time.”

The mayor said he also warned the premier the city is still planning to let a citizen panel study various rapid transit options. “She was comfortable with that,” he said, later adding the province “ultimately wants clarity from Hamilton as well.”

It’s still unclear where Hamilton sits in the queue for the next tranche of $15 billion in Big Move rapid transit funding for the greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

But Eisenberger noted the premier emphasized the pricey electrification of GO Train lines is a top priority and added the province is interested in Hamilton “integrating” its LRT planning with GO developments in the city.

He also stressed the next step should be to forge ahead with a citizens’ panel study on rapid transit – a process that could take most of the rest of the year – despite council’s formal request for $811 million for LRT. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday August 7, 2014

August 7, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 7, 2014

Kathleen Wynne urges feds to stop neglecting infrastructure

Premier Kathleen Wynne says infrastructure in Canada is in dire straits.

“Public infrastructure‎ in Canada has been neglected by all levels of government for too long,” Wynne told a special interprovincial summit Wednesday.

“And I would argue that now — time is up,” she said, adding progress can only be made when the provinces and the federal governments work together.

‎Wynne noted that Ontario is asking Ottawa “to do its part” by increasing it’s annual investment in infrastructure to 2 per cent of GDP.

“This is not about asking the federal government for something that isn’t going to benefit them,” she said.

Wynne said for example the province is sending $130 billion over 10 years on infrastructure compared to the federal government spending $70 billion over the next decade on the whole country.

The Premier said investment in infrastructure started to drop off in the 1970s “when Canada pulled back from a period of postwar infrastructure investment.

“This mistake wasn’t fully apparent until the 1990s. That’s when the crack could no longer be hidden,” she told the gathering of premiers, provincial ministers and municipal and private sector representatives.

Wynne noted that according to a Statistics Canada report, 10 per cent of private sector productivity gains between 1962 and 2006 were due to investment in infrastructure.

She also cited another StatsCan report that concluded that every dollar invested in public infrastructure lowers business costs by 11 cents and reduces manufacturing costs by 27 cents on average. (Source: Toronto Star)