Cheep, Cheep, Cheep

I wonder if this is what the Governor's hubby taught Eddie. Did he really tell him to mock people at the Senior Levels of Government especially when he wants money from them. He more than anyone should have been able to teach Eddie good manners with respect to dealing with Prime Ministers, Premiers and Finance Ministers.

What Eddie is saying again is for the birds. I guess I'm just tired of hearing Eddie chirping his bird song: cheap, cheap, cheap.

Eddie and his flock seem to think that taxpayers are a bottomless pit. It is the idea of "Windsor entitlement" that they are going to have to learn to shed already since it is not reality. Clearly, they are birds of a feather:

• "DRIC's proposal has been denounced by Francis and council as a cheap and deeply flawed border plan that will divide and pollute the community."

Come on, it is $1.6 billion that will create 10,000 plus jobs in this area which has the highest unemployment rate in Canada. It is not chicken feed. It's nothing to sneeze at from a guy who flew over to Germany at taxpayer expense to get maybe 50 jobs if we are lucky. Eddie hatched that plan quickly to escape Dwight at the pre-budget meeting, but Dwight outfoxed him with the Saturday session.

I know that the early bird gets the worm in economic development but I am still waiting to find out what he actually accomplished! Probably nothing if there was no big announcement or press release after all of this time back home.

I really do think that it is time did Eddie stop his stalling and suck in his gut to make a decision. Whether he likes it or not he will have to negotiate something with the Senior Levels and with the County or they will just ignore him. Frankly, at this stage of the game that wouldn't be so bad after all since we have a pretty good idea where the DRIC road is going to go and what it encompasses.

I did a quick search of other road projects to see how much money was spent and how they compare with Windsor. Obviously, the projects are not completely comparable since Windsor's position is unique but let's see what others have cost. I think you will agree that $1.6B is not bad at all:

• The QEW widening project through St. Catharines is the largest contract ever tendered by the Ministry of Transportation at $153 million. It is about 7 KM long. The high cost was attributed to the number of overpasses that needed to be constructed. I suspect that this is the project that Sandra was talking about when she mentioned that the DRIC road cost is 10 times that of the largest road project in Ontario.


• Highway 407 around Toronto cost around $1.6B to build. It became the largest P3 deal in Canada eventually. It became the largest Canadian PPP to date, the original 69-kilometre toll highway was sold to 407 ETR in 1999 for $3.1 billion


• $1 billion was set aside for the GTA transportation plan entitled FLOW. FLOW includes the extension of Toronto’s Spadina subway, rapid transit projects in Mississauga, Brampton and York Region, investments in Durham Transit, the widening of Highway 7 in Durham Region, the extension of Highway 404 north beyond Newmarket, and the extension of Highway 407 east to Highway 35/115


• the City of Ottawa, had an RFP process for a $778.2 million design, construction, operation
  and 15-year maintenance contract for a portion of a light rail transit system


• The Ontario government will invest $700 million over the next five years to expand northern highways - improving safety and efficiency and boosting economic development. Fifty-four new bridges and 62 kilometres of new roadway will be added within the next five years. For example:
  --The four-laning of Highway 69 for seven kilometres between Parry Sound and Nobel is underway and should be complete in 2008.
  --The four-laning of Highway 11 for six kilometres between Emsdale and Katrine is underway and should be complete by the end of this year.
  --The Northern Ontario Highways Strategy will accelerate the completion of the four-laning of Highways 11 and 69 within seven and 12 years, respectively.
  --The four-laning of Highway 69 is the largest construction project underway in Ontario.


• The cost of a new Highway 7 will cost between $300 -$400 million when completed between Guelph and Kitchener. The new road, 18 kilometres long.


• $336 million for ten highway improvement projects in Ontario. including ten construction projects to be carried out on Highway 401, Highway 69/400 and Highway 17. (eg
  Highway 401 between Windsor and Tilbury will be widened to six lanes, improving safety and facilitating trade.


• In 1999, the $323-million Highway 416 connected the 401 to Ottawa, the nation's capital.


• $1.5 billion for the Mid-Peninsula Highway The route will most likely begin at Peace Bridge or its planned twin bridge in Fort Erie as an alternative to the QEW.

It is time the Mayor stopped the childish name-calling and started acting like a professional. I am deathly afraid that one day soon the Senior Levels will have enough and walk away from Windsor. Then what would Eddie do? Claim a victory! That almost happened with the BIF money but for the extension.

Eddie had better learn quickly about a $1.6B bird in the hand.