THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 18, 2016) -
The Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, along with the Honourable Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines, announced today in Thunder Bay that 13 local infrastructure projects in communities across Ontario will receive over $10 million in joint funding from the Governments of Canada and Ontario through the Small Communities Fund.
The Government of Canada remains committed to making historic investments in infrastructure to promote good jobs and clean growth in towns and cities across the country.
The funding announced today by Minister Hajdu, on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, will help address local priorities in 13 communities by supporting infrastructure projects pertaining to green energy, waste management, drinking water and broadband.
Through the Small Communities Fund, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working in partnership to provide funding for priority public infrastructure projects that deliver on local needs in communities across the province that have fewer than 100,000 residents.
Quotes
"Green infrastructure such as clean drinking water infrastructure, renewable energy and waste management infrastructure, as well as connectivity and broadband infrastructure are critical to providing sustainable, livable communities. We are committed to maintain, restore and build public infrastructure for the 21st century. The Government of Canada is proud to invest in these 13 infrastructure projects, they will have a positive and lasting impact on the quality of life for the people in these communities."
The Honourable Patrica A. Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women
"Investing in infrastructure is absolutely critical to promoting long-term, sustainable economic growth in Ontario's northern communities. Thanks to joint funding from the Governments of Canada and Ontario, 13 communities can undertake important work to improve local drinking water, waste management and other critical infrastructure."
The Honourable Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines
"We are most appreciative of our project being approved from the Canada-Ontario Small Communities Fund. This project will benefit the community economically and environmentally in that it will provide an integrated solution to the existing infrastructure in our community. This will greatly reduce the dependency on diesel generation and the local grid for power."
Chief White Cloud, Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation
Quick Facts
- Canada and Ontario will each provide over $5 million of the total eligible cost of over $15 million for these 13 projects. Recipient's communities will be responsible for all remaining costs.
- Overall, Canada and Ontario will each provide $272 million through the Small Communities Fund to support projects in communities across the province.
Associated Links
See the backgrounder for the complete list of projects approved for funding.
To learn more the Small Communities Fund, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html.
See highlights of Ontario's infrastructure investments
Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng
Backgrounder
The governments of Canada and Ontario are announcing funding for 13 projects in communities across the province under the New Building Canada Plan's Small Communities Fund (SCF). This is in addition to the 78 projects already identified under the SCF in Ontario.
The Governments of Canada and Ontario each committed over $5 million for the 13 projects, which have a total eligible cost of more than $15 million. Recipient communities will be responsible for all remaining project costs. So far, the vast majority of the projects approved under this Fund are in communities with a population of less than 25,000.
The projects are as follows:
| Recipient | Project Description | Provincial Contribution |
Federal Contribution |
| Dubreuilville Township | Construct a new municipal landfill site to facilitate the disposal of non-hazardous residential, commercial and industrial waste to help mitigate the environmental impact on the local community. | $255,133 | $255,133 |
| Fauquier-Strickland Township | Upgrade the existing piping process and update the electrical, heating, ventilation and plumbing systems to improve the local community's drinking water. | $878,578 | $878,578 |
| Municipality of French River | Install a litter fence and automated gate systems and construct a storm water management pond to reduce the risk of flooding. | $250,328 | $250,328 |
| Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation | Install a new solar-powered electric micro-grid that will reduce the local community's reliance on diesel and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. | $260,662 | $260,662 |
| Mississauga First Nation | Construct a transfer station to temporarily hold waste slated for disposal or recycling. Once completed, the local community will benefit from a more cost-effective waste disposal system that will meet its needs over the next 20 years. | $273,750 | $273,750 |
| Taykwa Tagamou Nation | Install a new solar-powered electric micro-grid, and adopt energy conservation measures that use solar modules, oil-powered generators and batteries, to provide the local community with cost-effective power. | $684,238 | $684,238 |
| Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve | Install a new solar-powered electric micro-grid that will provide cost-effective power to over 50 local homes and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. | $814,568 | $814,568 |
| Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation | Install a galvanized steel roof on a local outdoor hockey rink, equipped with a solar grid system and LED lighting, to help generate solar energy. | $132,000 | $132,000 |
| Burpee and Mills Township | Install a solar-powered heating system in a municipal garage that will generate cleaner electricity and help improve the local community's environment and health. | $11,753 | $11,753 |
| Oneida Nation of the Thames | Install a new solar-powered electric micro-grid that will provide cost-effective power for local community housing and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. | $814,568 | $814,568 |
| Serpent River First Nation | Install additional fiber optic cable to provide 370 local community members with broadband Internet access. | $122,112 | $122,122 |
| Municipality of Killarney | Expand a local landfill site and install a new system to collect and treat environmentally harmful liquids. These upgrades will help mitigate waste disposal-related environmental impacts. | $276,512 | $276,512 |
| The North Shore Township | De-commission an over-capacitated local landfill site to improve solid waste disposal in the local community. | $292,125 | $292,125 |
For more information on the individual projects, please direct your questions to the recipient listed above.
For more information on the Small Communities Fund, please visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html.
Contact Information:
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
Brook.Simpson@Canada.ca
Jessica Hume
Press Secretary
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment
and Infrastructure
(416) 325-7569
Jessica.Hume@ontario.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca