Ontario invests $200M towards infrastructure in small northern communities

The funds will help pay for local infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water infrastructure. PHOTO: Government of Ontario

The Ontario government has announced a $200 million investment towards infrastructure in northern communities.

The investment was announced by Premier Doug Ford and Laurie Scott, minister of Infrastructure, on Jan. 17. The funds will come from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will help 424 small, rural and northern communities build and repair local infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water infrastructure.

The $200 million will be spent throughout 2020, matching funding for 2019.

“Ontario’s economy is thriving, but we must ensure every person and every region across the province can share in this prosperity,” Ford said in a release. “Investing in infrastructure is critical to helping rural communities attract, support and sustain economic growth and job creation.”

OCIF is part of the provincial government’s Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, which aims to strengthen the provincial economy. According to the provincial government, these investments will help eligible communities attract jobs and investment, as well as build local capacity to grow and thrive.

“Today’s announcement provides the predictable and stable infrastructure funding small, rural and northern municipalities have requested,” Scott said in a release. “With this OCIF funding, we are working directly with our municipal partners to help them build much-needed community infrastructure.”