Supplied by Sault MPP Ross Romano…
Priority projects will mean safer, faster, more convenient commutes
NEWS December 6, 2019
SAULT STE. MARIE — Ontario is working to support municipalities and get people moving
by investing in new transit and road infrastructure projects in Sault Ste. Marie and
Batchewana First Nation.
The Honourable Ross Romano, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities and MPP
for Sault Ste. Marie, announced the Ontario government is investing close to $5 million in 6
transit and road infrastructure projects in Sault Ste. Marie and Batchewana First Nation by
nominating them under the Public Transit stream and Rural and Northern stream of the
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
“These investments will help people who rely on our roads and public transit to get to work
and home safely. By building and maintaining great roads, bridges and transit
infrastructure, we are making strategic investments into areas of need in our community
while ensuring we do so in a thoughtful and balanced way that respects taxpayers money”
said Romano.
“We’re continuing to work with municipalities, families and businesses, to make smart
investments in our infrastructure, to keep it safe and reliable,” says Minister of Infrastructure
Laurie Scott. “Our investments are creating jobs and growing the economy, shaping the
future for hard-working families in Ontario.”
The projects are now with the federal government for final funding decisions as they are
reviewed for eligibility under the ICIP program. If approved, the nominated projects will be
eligible for total funding of more than $15.3 million from the federal, provincial and municipal
governments.
“The leadership of Batchewana First Nation has been working diligently to create new
economic opportunities and as such has seen exponential growth over the last decade,”
said Dean Sayers, Chief of Batchewana First Nation. “We are encouraged to see the
Province acknowledge these efforts and contribute financial support to help advance this
development further. Our People have a right to live in their community. This funding helps
that vision come to fruition.”
QUICK FACTS
The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is federal-provincial cost-sharing
program which includes up to $30 billion in federal, provincial and other partner funding
over 10years. Ontario’s share per project will be up to 33.33 per cent or about $10.2
billion spread across four streams: 1. Rural and Northern, 2. Public Transit, 3. Green, 4.
Community, Culture and Recreation.
The Rural and Northern in-take focused on road, bridge, air and marine infrastructure in
rural and northern communities with populations under 100,000 people.
A total of 144 road, bridge, air and marine infrastructure projects have been nominated
to date under the Rural and Northern stream.
The second intake of ICIP applications was for transit projects in municipalities outside
the GTHA. Funding is allocated to transit systems based on a municipality’s or
municipalities’ share of total transit ridership in Ontario as per the 2015 Canadian Urban
Transit Association Fact Book. This allocations-based funding model was set by the
federal government. The Province has nominated 144 transit infrastructure projects from
42 municipalities outside of the GTHA under the Public Transit stream of ICIP. More
nominations from this intake will be announced later this year.