Thunder Bay infrastructure may get boost from city budget

Thunder Bay council voted Thursdaynight to set aside more money to repair crumbling infrastructure in the city.

In doing so,Coun. Shelby Ch'ng won her motion to add $487,500 to the city's enhanced infrastructure renewal program, to match 2015's budgeted amount.

The programis earmarked for projects such as road and sidewalkrepairs.

"I've had no phone calls, emails, voice mails, tweets, Facebooks, Snap Chats, Instagrams, telling me to spend less on infrastructure," she said.

"More needs to be done, and that's what I hear consistently from my constituents, not only inNorthwood. Not only McKellar, but the city as a whole," Ch'ng said.

Coun. Joe Virdiramo spoke against the measure.

"What I hear from constituents in the entire city is 'we can't afford a 3.5 per centtax increase, so please bring it down,'" he said.

As budget deliberations carried on late into the evening, council voted to delay ratification and continue its review next Thursday.

Contentious issues, such as a proposed bid for the Canada Summer Games have yet to come to a vote.

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