MPs back bid for federal cash
Sat, January 24, 2009
By KATE DUBINSKI
London's four MPs weren't making any promises yesterday, but they assured city hall officials they're on side when it comes to getting a bundle of federal cash to stimulate the local economy.
If they knew, the MPs weren't telling the city how much it will get toward its $200-million wish list Tuesday when details of the federal stimulus plan are announced.
When they sat down with city officials yesterday to talk economic strategy, the MPs said quick cash to get London to become a regional transportation hub and gateway to international trade is at the top of their priority list, too.
"We know we're not going to get the full $200 million . . . but we wanted them to know that next week is very important for all Canadians," Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco- Best said after the session.
"They have to invest in infrastructure, they have to make changes to Employment Insurance -- there are a number of things that have to happen, and I hope they're not bound up by red tape."
The meeting included the region's two Conservative MPs, London-West's Ed Holder and Elgin-Middlesex-London's Joe Preston, London-North-Centre Liberal MP Glen Pearson and London-Fanshawe NDP MP Irene Mathyssen.
"We need to be the transportation and trade hub. We've got the right asset mix," DeCicco-Best said. "(Ottawa) should want that because if we're competitive as a region, then we're competitive as a country."
A $15-million injection to kick start a London transportation hub "makes a lot of sense" said Holder, but he couldn't promise Ottawa would deliver.
"If . . . not, then I'll move to work with partners to get the money from elsewhere," he said.
City and federal officials also discussed public housing, Employment Insurance impr-ovements and a national child-care and early education plan.
Controller Gord Hume asked the MPs to change laws governing who gets money from assets seized as proceeds of crime -- from cars and houses to cash from drug busts.
"The guy who does the job should get the money. I agree," said Preston.
Currently, proceeds of crime -- as much as $4 million last year in the London area -- go to federal coffers, not to the police agency seizing them.