Northern Ontario is set to benefit from the $200 million in infrastructure funding announced by the province on Jan. 17.
The allotment, provided through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), helps small, rural and northern communities – with populations of fewer than 100,000 people – pay for roads, bridges, water, and wastewater infrastructure.
Under the program, municipalities may accumulate their formula funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.
"Ontario's economy is thriving, but we must ensure every person and every region across the province can share in this prosperity," Premier Doug Ford said in a news release announcing the funds.
"Investing in infrastructure is critical to helping rural communities attract, support and sustain economic growth and job creation."
Jamie McGarvey, president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) called the funding “timely and much appreciated.”
"OCIF is an excellent example of the stable, predictable infrastructure funding small and rural communities need to help sustain and develop local communities and economies,” McGarvey said in the release.
“OCIF's formula-based funding helps build and maintain Ontario's network of local roads and bridges and critical water, wastewater and stormwater systems.”
Highlights of the funding include:
- $9,292 749 for the City of Greater Sudbury (an increase from $9,265,917 in 2019);
- $2,632,581 for the City of North Bay (an increase from $2,569,870 in 2019);
- $2,015,467 for the City of Sault Ste. Marie (an increase $1,980,400 in 2019);
- $5,816,059 for the City of Thunder Bay (an increase from $5,490,018 in 2019);
- $905,873 for the City of Timmins (an increase from $869,307 in 2019).
A full list of recipients and their allotments can be found here.
