Ontario now has stronger, healthier and safer communities thanks to a solid partnership between the province and its municipalities.

Premier McGuinty spoke to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario at their annual conference today about his government’s plan to take on the responsibility for court security costs. This would save municipalities up to $125 million a year by 2018 — funds that could be reinvested into local priorities.

McGuinty said continued uploading of funding for provincially mandated programs would result in $1.5 billion in annual savings for Ontario municipalities by 2018. At that time, Ontario’s total support for municipalities will have increased by 270 per cent to $4 billion.

Since 2003, Ontario has been working to create a more collaborative and productive relationships with its municipalities. The province has already taken increased responsibility for funding a number of programs, including:

• Uploaded land ambulance costs to 50 per cent and public health funding up to 75 per cent.
• Uploading $1.5 billion in public services by 2018 including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Drug Benefit and court security.

Other investments in Ontario’s cities and towns include:

• $62 billion for infrastructure since 2003, resulting in 5,600 completed projects.
• Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan, Building Together, will invest more than $35 billion in infrastructure over the next three years.
• More than $1.9 billion for public transit through gas tax funding.