'Property taxes shouldn't pay for provincial highways': Ottawa mayor supports calls to upload Hwy. 174 to the province
Mayor Jim Watson is onboard with calls for the Ontario government to take over the responsibility of Regional Road 174 from the city of Ottawa.
Coun. Catherine Kitts will introduce a motion at Wednesday's transportation committee meeting, asking the mayor to write Premier Doug Ford in support of a Private Member's Bill to upload Highway 174 back to the province.
"I think it's a great move," said Watson, when asked on Newstalk 580 CFRA if he supports the calls for Ontario to take over responsibility of the highway in Ottawa's east end.
"This goes back to the Mike Harris days when they downloaded a lot of different responsibilities, including Highway 174. For all intense purposes, as you know, that road is a highway but it was downloaded and now Ottawa taxpayers have to take responsibility for repairing it, snowplowing it and so on."
Last month, Orléans MPP Stephen Blais introduced the Uploading Highways 174 and 17 Act, which would return both roads to provincial jurisdiction after having been downloaded to the municipalities by the Progressive Conservative government in the 1990s.
Kitts' motion recommends the transportation committee direct the mayor to write to Ford in support of Blais' private member's bill, "on the condition that the transfer not take place until after the completion of Stage 2 east extension to Trim Road."
Stage 2 of Ottawa's light rail transit project extends the LRT from Blair station to Trim Road along the median of Highway 174.
Kitts also proposes Watson write to Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney that if Bill 22 is approved and Ontario uploads responsibility of Hwy. 174, "the first priority for OR 174 be the planning, design, and construction of the Trim Road Park and Ride parkade."
Watson says it's time for the province to cover the costs of Regional 174.
"Property taxes shouldn't pay for provincial highways," said Watson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims.