Municipal infrastructure in the local area is getting a $20-million boost from the Ontario government.

The McGuinty government announced last week that Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound would receive $20 million from a pot of provincial money set aside for infrastructure needs. The announcement angered local MPP Bill Murdoch, who said the government refused to release funding amounts for ridings represented by members of the opposition.

"For days, we were on the phones, trying to get the municipal allocations for our ridings and the minister's staff wouldn't release it to us," said Murdoch, who dubbed the money a "slush fund" in a media statement.

In the local area, Meaford will receive $1,052,456 from the government. Grey Highlands will get $1,943,546 and Grey County will receive $4,342,124. The county will also receive $825,000 from another provincial fund.

Municipal government officials were still waiting last week to find out what strings will be attached to the funding, but it has been earmarked for road and bridge upgrades. Municipalities received funding from a calculation that used population and total road kilometres.

At Tuesday morning's regular session of Grey County council, members  were all smiles after the funding announcement. A resolution was passed to thank the province for coming through with the new money.

"It was very good news the province came through with some new revenue for us," said Warden Kevin Eccles. "This won't fix all of our needs, but it goes a long way," said the Warden.

The provincial money is a one-time grant only. The money will not be ongoing infrastructure funding for municipalities. Later in the meeting, County CAO Gary Wood read a letter from the province stating that municipalities will have to meet certain requirements - to be set out later - to be able to keep the money. Accountability measures will have to be sent to the province in June.

Grey Highlands Mayor Brian Mullin said the new money wouldn't have an impact on his municipality's tax rate in 2008.

"It's provincial money for infrastructure needs. It won't affect our taxes," said Mullin, noting that Grey Highlands had plenty of roads and bridges work that the money could be used for.

Meaford Deputy Mayor Francis Richardson was very happy that his municipality would receive over $1 million in funding from the province.

"We need to find out the final details for this funding and then find out what our concerns are," said Richardson. "We'll have to find out how to use these funds effectively. It's for roads and bridges and we always have needs in those areas," said Richardson.

Murdoch said he was pleased that his riding's share of the money hit the $20-million total, but he wondered why the Liberals played politics with the announcement.

"This should have been a good-news story, a moment for them to look good to the people of Ontario," said Murdoch, adding that he was surprised by the secrecy surrounding the amounts opposition ridings were receiving.

"Why muck it up like this? This was about playing dirty, malicious politics, which is so hypocritical of a government that speaks so often of inclusiveness and openness," he said.