NDP Leader Howard Hampton visited Hamilton today to see first-hand how Dalton McGuinty has failed working families who are being squeezed by years of government inaction on flood problems.

Hampton visited the home of Ronda Gregory to see for himself how the McGuinty government’s failure to provide fair infrastructure funding for Hamilton’s aging sewer system has hurt local families.

“The McGuinty Liberals promised change but they haven’t delivered. Ronda’s sewer has flooded her basement three times in the last two years, including once last week, and there is one simple reason for this. Dalton McGuinty had time to give himself a $40,000 pay raise but has failed to provide the people Hamilton with the fair infrastructure funding they need to pay for fast-tracked repairs to old storm sewers that can’t handle intense storms,” Hampton said.

While Hamilton City Council has shown leadership and moved to fast-track sewer repairs to ensure they’re done over the next three to five years, the McGuinty government hasn’t come through with funding to support the initiative. That has forced the council to pay for all the improvements by diverting money from other municipal priorities. Hamilton East MPP Andrea Horwath, who has lobbied hard for fair infrastructure funding for Hamilton at Queen’s Park, says it’s a huge disappointment the McGuinty government refuses to treat Hamilton fairly.

“Everyday people like Ronda Gregory are paying the price for Dalton McGuinty’s failure to come through for Hamilton on infrastructure costs. We need action. We need results. We need fair funding. And we it all now,” Horwath said.