Infrastructure In Ontario

Infrastructure is a fundamental component to economic growth and urban life. From the water in our taps to the electricity in our lights, infrastructure is responsible for so much within a city. Infrastructure does not just provide us with our basic needs, it includes our public transit, our schools and even our hospitals. It is the foundation of any great metropolis- including Toronto. The issue with the infrastructure in Toronto, and the rest of Ontario, is that it has not been significantly developed since the 1950’s. In simpler words, in 2015 we, the Ontario people, are living off the infrastructure build by our grandparents. Over the past 50 years, Ontario seems to have lost the connection between infrastructure and development of community,

Job creation is a key factor for economic development. Toronto alone receives 100 000 immigrants each year, most of them in need of work. With Ontario’s investment in infrastructure, thousands of jobs would be created, not only in the construction industry but also within every industry indirectly affected by the construction. If we look back to 2008 during the recession, Ontario actually spent more on infrastructure knowing the job creation would significantly boost our economy. The Conference Board of Canada released a report in 2010 titled “The Economic Impact of Public Infrastructure in Ontario” which stated if we had not invested in infrastructure during the global economic crisis, Ontario alone would have lost 70 000 more jobs in 2009. This goes to show the truly immense impact our investment in infrastructure can have on Ontario’s economy. Basic Infrastructure not only helps a city or region in a functional way, it can also have an effect on the appearance of an area. If a city is physically attractive, businesses and labourers will be more inclined to migrate to that specific city rather than another, which in turn stimulates economic growth. This effect creates somewhat of a competitive nature between cities and businesses. The attractiveness of an area, in recent years, has had a huge effect on where people live and bring their business, especially in the knowledge-based economy we live in today. Cities throughout Ontario should want to attract investment, and developing infrastructure will only help them achieve