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Media
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February
18, 2009
Devolin Remains Optimistic for the Cavan Monaghan Building Canada project
MP Devolin Remains Optimistic
I want to make it clear that Cavan Monaghan's proposal to build a new waste water facility is still active in the approvals process. It is not dead. It has not been declined, and I remain optimistic it will be approved in the coming weeks if a few issues regarding timing can be resolved.
In order to understand this story, some background is necessary.
Last fall, each municipal government in Ontario with less than 100,000 residents was invited to submit one application for an infrastructure project to be funded by local, provincial and federal governments. Most of these applications were for roads or bridges. Some were for arenas. A few were for waste water facilities.
The Cavan Monaghan council decided to submit their application for a $30 million waste water facility. (To put this in context, the Cavan Monaghan project is more expensive than the other eight applications from this riding combined.)
At the time, I said publicly that I recognized the importance of this project, and agreed with council that it would open the door for industrial, commercial and residential development in the township. I supported the application - as did our MPP Laurie Scott - and made it clear to the Minister of Infrastructure that it was a priority project in my riding. I continue to do all I can to move this project forward.
Late last week, I learned that many projects would be announced on Friday, but that final approval had not yet been granted for Cavan Monaghan. (I also noted that only two of the dozens of projects announced last Friday were for more than $30 million.)
Within 2 hours, I met with officials in Ottawa to find out what needed to be done. We agreed that Cavan Monaghan should meet federal and provincial officials as soon as possible to clarify how much of the project could be completed in 2009 and 2010.
These questions represent a slightly different set of priorities than were announced last fall. Due to the economic downturn, the federal and provincial governments are now giving the highest priority to projects that are "shovel ready". In the case of Cavan Monaghan, one of the questions sure to be asked is whether the land necessary has been purchased.
Last Thursday evening, I tried to contact the Reeve with this news, but was told he was unavailable to come to the phone. On Friday morning, I called the municipal office at 8:30 sharp. The Reeve was not there, so I spoke to the Clerk. I told her that Cavan Monaghan would not be on the list of approved projects that day, but that we should work together to get the approval finalized as quickly as possible. I made it clear that I expected it to be a matter of weeks, not months, so that we could proceed during the 2009 building season.
Given that Cavan Monaghan will be at the Good Roads municipal conference in Toronto next week anyway, we agreed that that would be a good opportunity for everyone to meet.
As such, I was surprised to hear this week that the Reeve of Cavan Monaghan is saying that Laurie Scott and I are to blame for this project not being announced last week. I called the reeve's home yesterday for an explanation, only to be told again that he was unable to come to the phone.
In closing, I want to assure the residents and business community of Cavan Monaghan that I am doing all I can to represent your interests in Ottawa. I want to see jobs created in our area, and I will do whatever I can to secure the public investment necessary to make those jobs a reality. I also continue to believe that by working together we will be successful.
Barry Devolin, M.P.
Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
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