TORONTO, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 -- The Government of Canada is providing $569,642,062 for projects under the new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) to rehabilitate and improve community water and wastewater systems across the Province of Ontario. Combined with provincial, municipal and other contributions, $1,139,284,124 will be going towards providing Ontario families with clean and reliable water and wastewater services.
Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, announced a bilateral agreement that will make more than $1.1 billion in combined funding available under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF). The federal government is providing up to 50% of this funding, amounting to almost $570 million, for projects while the provincial government will invest almost $270 million. Municipalities, First Nations and local services boards will cover the remaining costs. Municipalities will also be able to apply their Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) formula grants toward the municipal contribution for these projects. Ontario recently announced it will triple OCIF funding to $300 million per year by 2018-19.
Today's announcement is in addition to the bilateral agreement that was announced in August 2016 and provided $2.97 billion in combined funding for public transit infrastructure funding in Ontario under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. These agreements are part of Phase 1 of the $120 billion, 10-year Investing in Canada plan and is a key foundational piece of the federal government's longer-term investment strategy.
Also announced today was an initial list of 41 approved projects under the funding program. The list includes important work to create a new landmass around the current Essroc Quay in Toronto that will stabilize the area shoreline under flood conditions; replace aging water mains and provide sanitary and storm water services in Barrie; retrofit work for ponds in Brampton to enhance water quality and control erosion; upgrades to the main water line and the construction of a new storm water treatment plant in Sudbury; improvements to the Hespeler wastewater treatment plant in Waterloo; and upgrades to the snow disposal facility in Guelph. These projects will greatly contribute to ensuring that communities across Ontario have access to clean and reliable drinking water, efficient wastewater systems, and healthy rivers and lakes.
"Infrastructure is the foundation of the Canada we want to build for tomorrow," said Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. "The Government of Canada recognizes that we need a solid partnership with all orders of government to support infrastructure and create good, well-paying jobs that can help the middle class grow and prosper today. We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Ontario for clean water and wastewater so that Ontario communities can address their specific infrastructure priorities, while helping grow the middle class with good, well-paying jobs."
A complete list of identified projects in Ontario is availabe at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1124319
Quick facts
- CWWF funding is part of Phase 1 of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's historic $120-billion plan to support public infrastructure across the country over the next 10 years.
- Phase 1 provides more than $11.9 billion in investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects, and social infrastructure projects. Details on Phase 2 of Investing in Canada will be announced in the coming months.
- Under the CWWF agreement, the Government of Canada has made its funding retroactive to April 1, 2016, so projects can proceed without delay to ensure a productive construction season.
- Ontario's funding is part of the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history-about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit.
- Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.
