Regional Chair Karen Redman highlights local priorities ahead of Provincial budget

Waterloo Region – Regional Chair Karen Redman made a presentation today to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the 2019 Provincial pre-budget consultation process.

Chair Redman highlighted a number of key priorities for Waterloo Region, including:

• Transit infrastructure funding;
• Two-way All-day GO service to Cambridge and Kitchener;
• Maintenance of current development charges; and
• Funding for affordable housing.

These priorities emphasize the importance of ongoing Provincial strategic investments in Waterloo Region.

“We are proud to hold our place in the ‘innovation corridor’ and to stand among – and indeed, outperform – other well-known innovation regions, including California and Massachusetts,” said Chair Redman.

“Our continued success counts on the attraction and retention of talent. It hinges upon improved services. The continued success of Waterloo Region cascades into the continued success of the Province of Ontario.”

Chair Redman also gave committee members a copy of her correspondence to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli which includes a Top 10+1 list of requests. In addition to the priorities above, it highlights local ambulance dispatch operations, funding for nurses to address ambulance offload delays at hospitals, support for economic development and investment in mental health, prevention, treatment and addiction support.

The full correspondence is available to members of the media upon request.

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 For more information, please contact:

 Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408