Ontarians fed up with wasted public infrastructure dollars

TORONTO – Ontarians have had it with government policies and politicians who waste public infrastructure dollars, according to a new poll by Forum Research. The poll shows a whopping 90 per cent of Ontarians believe elected officials should be doing more to make sure taxpayers are getting good value. As many as 86 per cent of those surveyed support scrapping a provincial policy that makes construction work up to 30 per cent more expensive in Toronto, Hamilton, Sault Ste. Marie, the Region of Waterloo and at several public bodies including OPG, Hydro One and the Toronto District School Board.

“Ontarians are telling us they’re frustrated with politicians and policies that waste money and are not working in the public’s best interest,” said Karen Renkema, spokesperson for the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA). “When elected officials make a conscious choice to overcharge taxpayers on construction work, then they owe the public an explanation.”

The poll, commissioned by PCA also found:

• 84 per cent of those surveyed believe fairness for taxpayers and better value for infrastructure investments should be a priority in the next provincial election.
• 81 per cent believe an Ontario government policy that prevents qualified local companies and workers from building municipal projects in their communities is unfair. Those in Waterloo Region felt more strongly at 86 per cent, Sault Ste. Marie 80 per cent, Toronto 77 per cent, Hamilton 73 per cent.

“If the government is going to make fairness its mantra, shouldn’t that apply to municipal construction work?” added Renkema. “A provincial policy that doesn’t allow tax paying members of the public to work in their own cities, just doesn’t sit right with Ontarians.”

Forum surveyed 1,094 Ontarians last month. The poll has an accuracy level of +/-3.1 per cent.

PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada’s construction industry. PCA member companies are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada, employing more than 25,000 skilled construction workers who are represented primarily by CLAC.

SOURCE Progressive Contractors Association of Canada