The mayor's questionnaire

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has sent this questionnaire to all Ottawa-area candidates in the upcoming provincial election. He told them he plans to publish the results on the City's website on September 29, one week before voting day.

Here are the questions:

A. The Ottawa River Action Plan has been partially implemented. Phase III remains to be completed. This Phase will see the construction of large holding tanks that will prevent sewage overflows into the Ottawa River. The cost of this Phase is estimated to be approximately $150 million. The funding for this Phase of the project will be supplied by all three levels of government on an equal basis, as with the first two phases.

1. Do you personally agree that the Province of Ontario should provide its 1/3 share of the funding to complete the ORAP project? Yes ____ No ____ Other_________________

2. Does your political party support the funding? Yes ____ No ____

Additional Comments: _______________________________________

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B. Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a project that is vital to the future transportation needs of the City of Ottawa. LRT is a shared-cost program with all three levels of government participating. The provincial share will be $600 million.

1. Do you personally agree that the Province of Ontario should provide this $600 million to help finance the LRT project? Yes ____ No ____

2. Does your political party support the funding? Yes ____ No ____

Additional Comments: _______________________________________

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C. The Federal Government and the Provinces announced the $1.4 billion Affordable Housing Framework 2011-2014 on July 4, 2011. This will be a shared cost program and it is expected that the City of Ottawa will derive approximately $25 million over the next 3 years from this program.

1. Do you personally agree that the Province of Ontario should provide these funds necessary? Yes ____ No ____

2. Does your political party support the funding? Yes ____ No ____

Additional Comments: _______________________________________

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3. Would you support a longer term affordable housing strategy be delivered after these funds expire? Yes ____ No ____

Additional Comments: _______________________________________

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D. The Province of Ontario began "uploading" approximately $1.5 billion in social service costs in 2008. This program has been partially implemented and saved the City of Ottawa $25 million in this year alone. The program of "uploading" will not be fully completed until 2018 and will also include the uploading of certain police service costs.

City of Ottawa long-range budget planning encompasses annual additional anticipated uploaded dollars of approximately $2.765 million in 2012; $5.205 million in 2013; $5.155 million in 2014; $5.340 million in 2015; $5.545 million in 2016; $6.150 million in 2017; and $6.065 in 2018. This does not include additional funds of approximately $5 million for police services, which provide a final annual total savings of $40- $41 million by 2018.

1. Do you personally agree that the Province of Ontario should complete the implementation of this uploading as planned? Yes ____ No ____

2. Does your political party support the completion of this uploading program?

Yes ____ No ____

Additional Comments: _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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E. The City of Ottawa has formally requested the province permit approximately 20 gaming tables for the Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots on a two year pilot project.

1. Do you support proceeding with this pilot project later this fall? Yes ____ No ____

2. Does your political party support the funding? Yes ____ No ____

Your Name: ______________________________________________________

Riding: __________________________________________________________

Political Party: _____________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________________