May 2025
In March of 2024, The Ontario Government announced that, after nearly 30 years, they were going to “re-upload” and take back, ownership of Hwy 174.
This is something that Orléans representatives, at all levels, from all political stripes, have been calling on for years. In 1996, the Province transferred the ownership (downloaded), and the associated maintenance and operating costs to the City of Gloucester (and to the Township of Cumberland) which then both became part of the City of Ottawa during amalgamation. This was done as a cost saving measure by the Harris Government to balance the Provincial budget. At the time, local representatives were opposed to it, and that opposition has been consistent with every Orléans elected representative since. Over the years, near all of us have moved motions, written letters, organized petitions, and held meetings with City and Provincial representatives.
Driving on the 417 (which is owned and maintained by the Provincial Government) in the west end, it is impossible to not feel the disparity between what we have here in the east on the 174. The 417 in Kanata has lighting, HOV lanes, bridges, and fresh pavement. The experience in the east is in stark contrast; it has the City paying millions annually to plow, pave, and maintain a road it should never have owned in the first place. The plea for the Province to take back their roadway was not about the City trying to compete with the Provincial Government on infrastructure investments on the 174, nor about shirking responsibility. Quite realistically, no municipality could ever have the financial capacity to compete with the Province. The budget for the entire City of Ottawa is one-fifth of what the Ontario Government spends on highways and bridges alone. This has always been about correcting a historical mistake.
When the Ontario Government made the announcement, it was included as part of the New Deal for Ottawa, and laid out the multi-year phased in approach, as both the Province and the City of Ottawa complete the necessary assessments and legal due diligence required, before the upload could be finalized. Due to the phased-in approach, the Ontario Government agreed to reimburse $9 million to the City to cover maintenance costs ($3M annually), as well as $47M over three years representing 100% of City’s estimate for planned capital projects (e.g.: slope stability and resurfacing) to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the City.
As we approached the one-year mark since this deal was announced, I put forward a formal inquiry to City staff, for them to publicly report back on how the uploading work has been progressing. Specifically, I asked staff to share details on what costs have been reimbursed by the Provincial Government, and for staff to provide an overview of what to expect as both the parties work through this transition period with any upcoming milestones.
I have shared the full report from staff below, but it is very reassuring to see that both sides have been fulfilling their sides of the deal. The City of Ottawa has been submitting claims, and the Province of Ontario has been reimbursing. Further, that the Province is allowing annual payments to carry over into the following year. As staff detail, the expectation is that the City will fully utilize the $56M in funding.
Beyond the financials, it was helpful to better understand what the due diligence process is, and what it entails. As well, that that progress has been happening quite quickly.
As this transfer is incredibly important to both the east end, and the City at large, I have already told staff to expect another inquiry from me, I look forward to the next update. I will continue to provide updates throughout the transition period.
