Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, was at the Fort Frances Tourism Information Centre on Friday to announce that two projects were approved by the province for funding.
The Town of Fort Frances will get $1,425,185.89 for the reconstruction of Colonization Road West, while the Township of Alberton will be $440,400 to replace Kehl Bridge.
The total project costs will be split between the federal, provincial and respective municipal governments.
These projects are now awaiting approval by the federal government.
Earlier this spring, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, Monte McNaughton, launched the $30-billion integrated bilateral Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Minister McNaughton has been working closely with Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ernie Hardeman, on the $500-million Rural and Northern stream of this program. Projects, including those listed above, are the first to be nominated under this stream.
“For several reasons, Northern Ontario remains a focus for economic and job growth,” said Minister Rickford.
“We’re meeting transportation needs that will keep people and goods flowing throughout the region, and out to markets across Canada and the world,” he added.
Ontario’s government, saddled with the largest subnational debt in the world, is protecting what matters most by investing in critical infrastructure projects like the ones in Fort Frances and Alberton.
“If the federal government acts quickly, we’ll have shovels in the ground by this fall – creating jobs, growing the economy, and making life easier for hardworking families and businesses here in Fort Frances, Alberton, Northern Ontario and beyond,” said Minister Rickford.
On March 18, the intake for the Rural and Northern stream was launched.
Projects that improve transportation infrastructure through investments in road, bridge, air and/or marine infrastructure are prioritized.
Municipalities and First Nations with populations of 100,000 or less will be eligible to submit a project through the one-window Grants Ontario portal.
