Canada and Ontario to make significant infrastructure investments that will improve the lives of Canadians

Supporting new projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 14, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Ontario are working together to make long-term infrastructure investments that will create economic growth, sustain well-paying jobs, build inclusive communities and support a low carbon, green economy–leading to a higher quality of life for all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, announced the signing of a bilateral agreement that will provide more than $11.8 billion through the Investing in Canada plan over the next decade in federal funding dedicated to infrastructure projects. The projects supported through this agreement will have a total value of over $31 billion, including $10 billion committed by the Ontario government. These projects will be cost-shared with the Ontario government, municipalities and other partners.

This new funding will see the Government of Canada and the province of Ontario make unprecedented investments in public transit, green infrastructure, and recreational and cultural infrastructure.

These investments will have benefits for people in communities across the province, including:

• Faster commute and travel time for more people, and easier movement of goods for businesses
• Cleaner air and water
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Smarter and more efficient cities
• Sustainable water management
• Enhanced public parks, recreational facilities and other spaces that make communities great places to live
• Better transportation and digital infrastructure for people living in remote communities
• Increased energy security and reduced reliance on diesel in the North

The funding announced today builds on Ontario's$190 billion commitment to infrastructure over 13 years. The province's investments are already supporting priority projects across the province such as schools, hospitals, public transit, roads and bridges.

Across Canada, more than $33 billion in federal funding will be invested through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. Provinces and territories will develop three-year plans that will provide information on how they will implement their infrastructure projects.

Quotes

"I am pleased that we have signed an agreement with Ontario to provide long-term stable funding for priority infrastructure projects. This funding will make a real difference in Ontario communities. Long-term investments in infrastructure are key to building a strong Canada–connecting people, creating good jobs for the middle class, and building our economy and our communities for the future. Collaboration and partnership have been at the heart of the success of our Investing in Canada plan and we will continue to work with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Today's announcement signals a bright future for the people of Mississauga. Investing in infrastructure not only builds our communities, it creates well-paying jobs, promotes industry and grows our economy. Whether its improved public transit or new recreational opportunities for our kids, our government knows infrastructure investments make a difference in the lives of Canadians."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Milton

"At its core, infrastructure is about people, and our government is committed to ensuring that our unprecedented infrastructure investments work for everyone in Ontario. We have a responsibility to build the critical public infrastructure our province needs to maintain a strong economy and high standard of living. That is the reason we are investing more than $190 billion in hospitals, schools, roads and bridges. Every dollar invested in infrastructure is an investment in quality of life and in our economy."

The Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure

"Public infrastructure is the foundation upon which thriving, liveable communities are built. I am pleased that Ontario and Canada are coming together to build public transit; green; and community, culture, and recreation infrastructure, and that Mississauga will be a major beneficiary of these investments."

Harinder Takhar, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament for Mississauga–Erindale

"Communities across Ontario need up-to-date infrastructure to thrive and protect people's health and safety. This long-term funding is important as it helps us make needed investments in municipal infrastructure. Together we will monitor our progress on what this funding achieves and what else might be needed to help municipal governments to invest in critical local infrastructure."

Lynn Dollin, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario

"In order to ensure growing cities like Mississauga are able to break gridlock, get people moving, attract new investment, create jobs and improve our quality of life, we must work together to build the infrastructure our communities need to drive our economy forward. The Canadian and Ontario economies are powered by municipal infrastructure and it's important that cities like Mississauga are given the proper funding and tools to make investments where they are needed most. Today's investment in our City of over $800 million over the next decade will keep Mississauga moving and demonstrates what can be achieved when all levels of government work together to strengthen our communities."

Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga

Quick facts

• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Under the first phase of the plan, Infrastructure Canada has approved nearly 3,500 projects across Canada worth a combined investment of more than $8.4 billion, including more than 2,000 projects worth more than $1.6 billion in Ontario.

• As part of the Plan, Infrastructure Canada will deliver $33 billion over the next decade through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories under four funding streams:
• $20.1 billion for public transit;
• $9.2 billion for green infrastructure;
• $1.3 billion for community, cultural and recreational infrastructure; and
• $2 billion for wide-ranging infrastructure needs in rural and northern communities.
• The funding provided under the bilateral agreement also includes up to $660 million committed to the Scarborough Subway Extension project in Toronto, which will be reviewed when formally submitted by the province. The Government of Ontario will continue to work closely with the City of Toronto on this project. The province has already committed to supporting it through previously approved public transit investment funding.
• This funding provided to Ontario under the bilateral agreement includes almost $1.5 billion that has been committed through the Investing in Canada plan for the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Stage 2 project and the Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure project in Toronto.
• As part of its infrastructure plan, Ontario is investing $190 billion in public infrastructure over 13 years, starting in 2014–15. This represents the largest infrastructure investment in the province's history to support priority projects across the province such as roads, bridges, public transit, hospitals and schools.

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Backgrounder

Canada and Ontario to make significant infrastructure investments that will improve the lives of Canadians
Supporting new projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

Under the $180 billionInvesting in Canadainfrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is signing new bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories, which will see more than $33 billion in federal investment towards significant infrastructure projects across the country. The objective of these investments is to transform the way Canadians live, move and work in four priority areas:

• Public transit;
• Green infrastructure;
• Community, culture, and recreation infrastructure; and
• Rural and northern communities.

Ontario will match new federal funding in part through its provincial infrastructure plan, which is investing more than $190 billion over 13 years.

Ontario's Funding Allocations

The table below shows the allocations for Ontario by funding stream from 2018-2028 which amounts to $11,846,483,456.

* Outcomes will be obtained through projects, which will be communicated in more details as they are announced.

The bilateral agreement will allow the Government of Canada and Ontario to agree on shared results as well as a method of reporting on results on a regular basis. The bilateral agreement supports the following long-term results:

• Increase the rate of economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable way;
• Improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency of communities;
• Improve mobility in Canadian communities;
• Make Canadian communities more inclusive and accessible; and
• Manage infrastructure in a more sustainable way.

Under this new bilateral agreement, the Government of Canada will not only make significant investments in Canadian communities, but also open the door to unique and innovative project ideas that meet the agreed-upon outcomes. These new ideas will contribute to the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure.

In order to ensure our partners consider opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or better adapt to climate change during the project development stage, a new climate lens will be applied for certain projects. Additionally, partners will also report on how larger projects are creating job opportunities for a broader array of Canadians in the construction industry and related sectors through a new Community Employment Benefits framework.

For information on cost-sharing, please see Infrastructure Canada's website.

Ontario's Transit Allocation (by community)

The Public Transit stream will provide provinces, territories and municipalities with funding to address the new construction, expansion, and improvement and rehabilitation of public transit infrastructure.

The table below provides an overview of the maximum transit allocations for the following recipients in Ontario (and is not a comprehensive list):

* Provincial allocation is assumed based on a 33% cost share with the Government of Canada

Note that other recipients of transit allocations will be announced at a later date.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ Investing in Canada plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/on-eng.html

Visit the BuildON map to find out about projects being built in your community: https://www.ontario.ca/buildon

Building better lives: Ontario's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan 2017: https://www.ontario.ca/document/building-better-lives-ontarios-long-term-infrastructure-plan-2017/

Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada