Ontario Investing in Local Infrastructure in Northern Ontario

Nearly $38 million will help build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure

NORTHERN ONTARIO – The Ontario government announced nearly $38 million to address local

infrastructure in Northern Ontario through the 2021 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF).

The funding will help 144 communities in the region build and repair roads, bridges, water and

wastewater infrastructure. These investments are part of a total allocation of $200 million for 424

small, rural and Northern communities across Ontario under OCIF.

“By investing in infrastructure projects across the province, we are strengthening and building

communities,” said Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure. “This is part of our ongoing

commitment to support small, rural and Northern municipalities, providing stable funding needed to

build long- term economic resilience.”

OCIF helps eligible communities invest in local infrastructure and asset management planning to

address their priority needs. The province uses a formula to distribute funding, recognizing that

municipalities have different infrastructure needs. These investments will help eligible

communities attract jobs and investment, as well as build local capacity to grow and thrive.

This annual municipal investment provided through OCIF for local infrastructure in communities

across Ontario will contribute to the province’s economic recovery and growth in the coming year.

QUICK FACTS

The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund provides funding for municipalities with populations under 100,000, including all rural and northern municipalities, and local service boards that own water/wastewater assets.
In 2020, approximately $200 million in funding was allocated to small, rural and northern communities. Municipalities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.
Ontario also provides funding to communities through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), a $30-billion, 10-year infrastructure program cost-shared between federal, provincial and municipal governments. Ontario’s share per project will be up to 33.33 per cent, or $10.2 billion spread across four streams: Rural and Northern, Transit Infrastructure, and Community, Culture and Recreation and Green.
As indicated in the Ontario 2020 Budget, planned capital investments over the next 10 years total $142.9 billion.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund recipients Learn about infrastructure projects in your

community 2020 Ontario Budget/ Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover