https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/8/ontario-intake-for-federal-infrastructure-funds-to-begin-in-early-september.html

Ontario Intake for Federal Infrastructure Funds to Begin in Early September

Premier Wynne Reports on Infrastructure Progress at AMO AGM & Annual Conference

Ontario will launch the intake process in early September to identify municipal and First Nations projects to be funded under phase one of the federal government's new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, Premier Kathleen Wynne said today.

Speaking in Windsor at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) AGM and Annual Conference, the Premier said funding for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund will be allocated fairly and transparently, using a formula similar to the one for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), including a minimum base allocation for all recipients. Municipalities will also be able to apply their OCIF formula grants toward the municipal contribution for these projects. The Premier also said the province will work to make more support available beyond OCIF funding, where required, to assist municipalities.

The federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund will provide more than $560 million for Ontario over the next two years to support critical, shovel-ready water, wastewater and stormwater projects across the province.

As announced in the 2016 Federal Budget, the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund will be allocated based on transit ridership numbers. The province is working with the federal government and municipal partners to announce more details when the application intake opens in September.

Ontario is investing about $160 billion over 12 years in schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and transit -- the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history. These investments are supporting more than 110,000 jobs a year, on average.

Investing in municipalities is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Quick Facts

• In February, the Premier announced that Ontario will triple its investments through the OCIF. The fund is increasing from $100 million per year to $300 million by 2018-19, including $200 million per year for predictable, formula-based funding.
• In 2016, Ontario will provide municipalities with ongoing support of over $3.8 billion — an increase of $2.7 billion above the support provided in 2003.

Additional Resources

• Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund

Quotes

“The federal government is building on our historic investments in infrastructure by creating new funding streams to partner with communities on water and wastewater and transit. We're all eager to get shovels into the ground, so Ontario will launch the intake process for these funds within a month and will work to make more support available beyond OCIF funding, where required, to assist municipalities.”

Kathleen Wynne

Premier of Ontario

“As Ontario continues to move forward with the most ambitious infrastructure plan in its history, partnering with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and its affiliated municipal organizations across the province is a top priority. To ensure that communities can make the most of federal infrastructure dollars, I'm excited that the Premier has announced that Ontario will work to make more provincial support available, where required, to communities under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. It is an acknowledgement of how our government values its relationship with our municipal partners.”

Bill Mauro

Minister of Municipal Affairs