Ontario invests $19.5M in Sudbury infrastructure
By On-Site Magazine
Construction Infrastructure community infrastructure investment SudburyOntario is providing Sudbury with up to $19.5 million in formula-based funding over three years to upgrade and expand local community infrastructure through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF).
Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury.
Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury, on behalf of Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, made the announcement August 31st in Sudbury.
“Investing $19.5 million in Sudbury’s roads and bridges will create jobs and opportunities for families and businesses in this community. In total, 116 communities in the Northeast will receive more than $58 million to upgrade community infrastructure. This is further proof that our government remains committed to Northeastern Ontario and ensuring our economy is strong,” said Thibeault.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is tripling its investments through OCIF, from $100 million in 2015-16 to $300 million in 2018-19. Of the $300 million allocated for 2018-19, the province will allocate $100 million for municipalities to apply to invest in crucial infrastructure projects, and $200 million for predictable, formula-based funding.
- Municipalities receive formula funding based on their economic conditions and their infrastructure needs. These funds can be used by communities to upgrade local roads, bridges and water and wastewater facilities. In addition, municipalities now also have the option to bank their funding for up to five years, allowing them more local control over long-term planning and the ability to carry out larger critical infrastructure projects.
- OCIF is part of Moving Ontario Forward, the government’s plan to invest $31.5 billion over 10 years in transit, transportation and other priority infrastructure across the province.
- OCIF supports projects in municipalities with a population of less than 100,000 as of the 2011 census, as well as municipalities that are located in Northern or rural Ontario.
- A 2015 report by the Broadbent Institute and the Centre for Spatial Economics found that, on average, investing $1 in public infrastructure in Canada raises GDP by $1.43 in the short term and up to $3.83 in the long term.
