Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing an additional $1 billion over the next five years to help build and repair local roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities.
“Our small, rural and northern communities will be at the forefront of our efforts to build Ontario for the future,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With this investment, we are saying ‘yes’ to helping these communities build and repair the vital infrastructure they need to keep their communities working for decades to come.”
The multi-year funding will be delivered through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will bring the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion over the next five years. Funding allocations will be based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities across the province.
“Communities are facing unique infrastructure needs and challenges, especially as we navigate through the pandemic,” said Kinga Surma, minister of infrastructure. “We’re providing stability and predictability to small, rural and northern communities as they repair, upgrade, and modernize their critical infrastructure so that they are safer, healthier and more reliable for all.”
“Our government is building a strong, stable foundation that workers, entrepreneurs, and families will build on for generations to come,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “By nearly doubling our investment in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, our government is supporting public safety, job creation and economic growth.”
The announcement is part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario, detailing how the government will build Ontario’s future with shovels in the ground for highways, hospitals, long-term care, housing and high-speed internet.
The OCIF supports local infrastructure projects for communities with populations under 100,000, along with all rural and northern communities. For 2021, approximately $200 million in funding was allocated to 424 small, rural and northern communities. Municipalities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.
“Nearly doubling the government’s annual investment in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund is great news for our communities. This investment will provide additional certainty for our small and rural communities so that they can address local infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water and wastewater infrastructure. Our government continues to build the foundation for recovery and prosperity by getting shovels in the ground on critical infrastructure projects in communities across the province,” said David Piccini, MPP, Northumberland-Peterborough South.