Building Ontario with Investments in Small, Rural and Northern Communities

Province supports economic growth and job creation with additional funding for critical infrastructure in Pickering-Uxbridge

 

Pickering, ON – The Ontario government is providing $1,945,739 to help build and repair local infrastructure in the City of Pickering and $811,112 to help build and repair local infrastructure in the Township of Uxbridge. This investment is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario by getting shovels in the ground on critical infrastructure projects that support economic recovery, growth and job creation.

“This is great news for our community, our government has more than doubled the amount municipalities like the City of Pickering will receive for critical infrastructure repairs,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “The investments our communities make in their infrastructure needs through the OCIF program will support economic growth, create local jobs, and continue our recovery from COVID-19”.

“On behalf of the Members of Council and residents, I unreservedly thank the Government of Ontario for investing in critical Pickering infrastructure,” said Dave Ryan, Mayor of
Pickering. “The OCIF funding will go towards the Whitevale Master Drainage Plan, which will help mitigate future flooding events. Together, we are building stronger and more resilient communities.”

“We are immensely grateful to receive this additional funding which will help us do more with our infrastructure dollars. Long term sustainable funding is critical to allow us to plan for large multi- year projects. We are appreciative that we have the support of the Province to help maintain our community’s key assets.” “Thank-you to Minister Bethlenfalvy for continuing to advocate for us at the Province,” said Dave Barton, Mayor of Uxbridge.

“On behalf of the Region of Durham, I am thrilled to see this significant investment from the Provincial Government towards our rural community infrastructure in the City of Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge. It is great to see that our partners share the same commitment to supporting the rural communities in Durham that we do. Our northern and rural residents are a vital part of what makes Durham Region the best place to call home, and this funding will go a long way to ensuring that they continue to receive top-tier services and infrastructure,” said Chair John Henry.

”Today’s announcement is part of the government’s additional $1 billion investment to help build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities. The multi-year funding is being 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.

“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.”

Funding allocations will be based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities across the province. The new formula will include an increased funding minimum of $100,000 for all communities per year, up from $50,000 over previous years.

“Communities are the heartbeat of this province and we know they are facing unique infrastructure needs and challenges, especially as we navigate through the pandemic,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Our government has been with them every step of the way. When we were told more funding supports were needed, we listened and acted in a meaningful way by providing the largest OCIF increase since the start of the program. By doing so, we’re providing stability and predictability to small, rural and northern communities to repair, upgrade, and modernize their critical infrastructure so that they are safer, healthier, and more reliable for all.”

The Province’s investment in OCIF is part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario. The plan lays out how the government will build Ontario’s future with shovels in the ground for highways, hospitals, long-term care, housing, and high-speed internet. To ensure all families, workers and businesses in the province have a better and brighter future, our government’s planned infrastructure investments over the next decade total more than $148 billion.

 

QUICK FACTS

  • 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.
  • Ontario also provides funding to communities through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), a $30-billion, 10-year infrastructure program cost-shared between federal, provincial and municipal governments, and other partners. Ontario’s share per project will be up to $10.2 billion spread across five streams: Rural and Northern, Transit Infrastructure, Community, Culture and Recreation, Green and COVID- 19 Resilience Infrastructure.
  • The 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario is the government’s seventh financial update since the pandemic began, highlighting the government’s commitment to providing regular updates on Ontario’s finances, even during this uncertain economic period. It is part of the government’s plan for recovery driven by economic growth.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

MORE INFORMATION:
Safa Khan
Office of MPP Bethlenfalvy (905) 509-0336 safa.khan@pc.ola.org