While Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa was in London Wednesday to talk about education and funding for a nutrition program, the provincial budget was on his mind and others.

A budget date hasn’t been set, but London got a glimpse of what’s in it for the city.

Sousa, who was at Princess Elizabeth public school, made it clear that jobs and economic development for this region will be getting some attention.

“Southwestern Ontario - all of those communities - are looking for more investment and they deserve it, because what we need is to put those communities on greater footing,” he said.

“(Deputy Premier) Deb Matthews, has been advocating for the same. I guess I can only say, ‘Stay tuned.’”

The city has been looking for $40 million to go to servicing industrial lands and to give companies a place to set up.

That money would become part of a $120 million investment to make un-serviced land around the 401 and 402 corridors ready for jobs.

There are only 26 hectares of serviced vacant land – not enough for big companies, so corporations would just drive by London, unless investments were in place.

While he wouldn’t give a commitment, Sousa said that London was on the right track when it comes to increasing employment opportunities.

Over the past several years, thousands of London jobs went south of the border.

To get some of them back, London needs a better hold on the manufacturing market.

“It’s all about jobs; it’s all about infrastructure; it’s all about investment and trade,” Mayor Joe Fontana said.

Fontana is confident the city’s business plan will help the province loosen its purse strings.

“Our business case is so strong, other levels of government will get their money faster than the City of London and I think that's what the finance minister wants to hear.”

Transit and Mining

While in town, Sousa also hinted that London’s once strong rail industry could play a role in a mining project worth billions of dollars and the expansion of GO Transit service, something former Electro Motive Diesel workers will want to hear.

“London has some of that expertise that we would need to tap into and it would be good for the region as well, to provide some of the manufacturing abilities to do that,” Sousa said.

It’s not quite clear what London’s role will be, but these are details that will likely be unveiled in the budget.