New Democrat MPP Andrea Horwath says Thunder Bay’s redeveloped waterfront signals a city on the move that deserves financial support, but is bound to be disappointed by the McGuinty government’s failure to invest.

Horwath, Ontario’s NDP Municipal Affairs Critic, is outraged over the McGuinty government’s failure to bring forward its plan to relieve cities of the downloaded cost of paying for provincial programs like housing and court security.

“How long should cities and property taxpayers have to wait before they see real action? Cities on the move like Thunder Bay need to know their concerns will be fully addressed. All these government delays give no reason for confidence. The province is playing a shell game.”

Originally, the government’s downloading report would be ready last February. The it became June and then August at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa Aug. 24 – 26. Government sources now say there will be no downloading announcement and hint at another month’s wait, said Horwath, a former municipal councillor before her election as MPP for Hamilton Centre in 2004.

Horwath says it’s unfair to keep municipalities waiting and she’ll be at the AMO conference to confront the Liberal record of “empty promises and empty pockets.”

“Municipalities shouldn’t be shouldering provincial costs and the McGuinty government shouldn’t promise investments it’s not prepared to deliver,” Horwath said.

“Timing is crucial for municipalities as they continue to pay for provincially mandated programs and the McGuinty government plays deadbeat. Any meaningful changes emanating from the report will require new legislation. At this pace, our municipalities and property taxpayers won’t see relief in time for 2009,” Horwath said.

New Democrats promote a comprehensive solution that would have resulted in $645 million for Ontario municipalities this year, an additional $1.4 billion in the first four years and would put Ontario on track to upload the download by 2015.