Ontario has received over $850 million through the new federal Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) for the 2021–22 fiscal year, along with a top-up of more than $816 million. This top-up more than doubles the amount of money that Ontario communities received through the program in 2020-21, enabling them to carry out infrastructure projects that support the well-being of their residents.
The new Canada Community-Building Fund provides communities with stable and flexible funding for their infrastructure priorities across a wide range of categories. For example, the City of Richmond Hill built the new Oak Ridges Library, a state-of-the-art 19,000 square foot facility that will meet the needs of a growing community. In the Town of Grimsby, funding was used to protect the shoreline which has been eroding due to waves and high water levels. The municipality installed a revetment – a sloping structure made of armour stone and designed to absorb the energy of incoming water, helping to prevent the loss of municipal infrastructure such as road, water and sanitary services.
FCM: What is the Canada Community-Building Fund?
The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) invested federal funding in work underway to make more subway stations accessible as part of the larger TTC’s Easier Access station accessibility retrofit program. Accessibility upgrades, including elevators, power-operated doors and new signage and wayfinding, funded in part by federal investments were completed at a number of stations.
Fire halls and fire station infrastructure have been added as an investment category for the program. This addition will contribute to the program’s objective of building stronger and more resilient communities.
By enabling communities to plan for their current and future needs, and build or improve the infrastructure that will help them thrive through any circumstance, the CCBF is a critical tool that will help ensure Ontario remains among the best places in the world to live for generations to come, a statement says.
“Fighting COVID-19 and investing in our economic recovery requires a Team Canada approach, Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of finance, said in a statement. “We have said we will do whatever it takes to support Canadians and today we are announcing that we are delivering on that commitment to Ontario communities. We know that cities and towns, which are responsible for local infrastructure that Canadians use, need urgent support. This investment makes sure they have this support as we rebuild, together.”
“Ontario’s municipalities have been tremendous partners to our government throughout the pandemic,” said Steve Clark, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “They’ve been working hard to maintain vital local services, and keep critical infrastructure projects on track. The Canada Community-Building Fund will help ensure that municipalities can build strong, reliable infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities today, and in the years to come.”