On Wednesday, the province announced it would be providing the Town of Collingwood with $1.9 million in 2022 to help build and repair local infrastructure.
This investment is part of the multi-year Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will bring the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion over the next five years. The investment is intended to help build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities.
The following towns will receive the amounts listed below:
- Town of Collingwood $1,904,113
- Town of the Blue Mountains $1,755,937
- Town of Wasaga Beach $2,049,226
- Township of Clearview $1,044,495
“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 are 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.
