Local reaction to Throne Speech
Posted Oct 16, 2013 06:51:36 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Governor General David Johnson addressed the nation in Wednesday’s Throne Speech.
From a local perspective, Regional Chair Ken Seiling tells 570 News that there isn’t really anything in the speech that would specifically affect Waterloo Region.
He adds he wasn’t surprised by much in the speech.
“It’s pretty obvious that a lot of material has already been in the press and the media and what they’re doing is reaffirming policy directions they have taken in the past and supplementing some of them with new initiatives…it generally follows what they’ve been doing to date.”
Seiling adds one area where area municipalities may be able to benefit is in the Infrastructure Program which promises 70 billion dollars in federal, provincial, territorial and community infrastructure over the next decade.
Former FCM president and City of Kitchener Councilor Berry Vrbanovic agrees with Seilling that this is definitely an area that municipalities can tap into. He tells 570 News that this is one aspect that “really shows the relationship between the Federal government and Local governments has progressed quite nicely in recent years.”
Another highlight for Vrbanovic is the government’s commitment to rail safety; especially after the Lac Megantic disaster, and the “housing first approach” in connection to the renewed homelessness strategy.
“That’s very important…Canadians are dealing with the high cost of housing across the country and we want to make sure that their needs continue to be met and by doing that it will also help create jobs and help cash-strapped families meet their needs going forward.”
For the full interviews with Councilor Berry Vrbanovic and Chair Ken Seiling click the links below.
Councilor Berry Vrbanovic:
Chair Ken Seiling:
