Wynne discusses infrastructure needs

Premier Kathleen Wynne weighed in on the Burlington flooding during a news conference addressing the province’s urgent infrastructure needs.

Wynne says Ontario’s roadways and water systems are in dire need of attention and she met with other premiers Wednesday urging the federal government to open its pockets.

Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common in our area. On Monday, Burlington was soaked with two months worth of rain in a matter of hours. Tornadoes touched down in Grand Bend and Angus this summer. And we can’t forget the impact of December’s ice storm. Wynne says Ontario and other provinces need help from the feds to create infrastructure that can withstand this kind of extreme weather.

In the meantime, she says her government is doing what it can to help Burlington residents: “The Minister of Municipal Affairs and housing has been in touch with the mayor of Burlington. Our MPP has worked with the mayor and I have reached out to the mayor as well. There hasn’t been a state of emergency declared in Burlington. I think they’re still in assessment of the damage but as in Belleville or in Angus or any of the communities where we’ve seen these severe weather incidents and we’ve seen the impact. When there is a need, the provincial government is on the ground with the first response whether there’s a declaration of emergency or not.”

What you’re looking at now is the tree or trees that damned the creek at the centre of the flooding in this neighbourhood. As for what happens next, the mayor isn’t saying anything for now about helping people pay for flood damage. Or whether some kind of disaster declaration would bring any help. But he’s meeting with the province tomorrow and says there will be much more to say about this on Friday.