Ontario Construction News staff writer
The governments of Canada and Ontario are contributing more than $22.2 million to assist with infrastructure projects in 130 municipalities throughout eastern Ontario.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $17.7 million in municipalities through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $4.4 million.
Funding announced last week – $17.7 million from the feds and $4.4 million from the province, will support upgrades to improve and protect important municipal buildings such as town centres and emergency and healthcare facilities.
“Today’s investments will allow thousands of residents in 130 communities across eastern Ontario to have safe and reliable access to important community infrastructure for years to come,” said Kingston MP Mark Gerretsen.
“Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds stronger, more resilient communities.”
Additional investments will rehabilitate recreational and community infrastructure across eastern Ontario and include improvements to local trail and pedestrian path systems. These investments will provide thousands of residents with access to modern recreational infrastructure where they can safely maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
In the City of Kingston, improvements at the Rideaucrest Long-term Care Facility, including the upgrading of the facility’s washrooms and elevators. Funding will also support the replacement of play structures in four city parks, providing safe and reliable recreational infrastructure for years to come.
The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent of total eligible costs for projects in provinces, and up to 100 per cent for projects in territories and Indigenous communities. The Ontario government will invest 20 per cent of the eligible costs for projects across the province.
“We’re pleased to see this investment in infrastructure and for the City’s long-term care home in particular. This funding will benefit our community now and into the future. Investments in infrastructure will be super important as we begin to consider recovery from the pandemic,” said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson.
The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream funding stream guarantees a minimum of $100,000 to each of the province’s 444 municipalities. Additional funding has been allocated to municipalities based on a variety of factors, including the value of infrastructure and median household income in each municipality.
Through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects.