On Friday June 5th a major infrastructure announcement was made at the site of what will be a new $45 million transit facility in Oakville. The new facility was just one of the 1373 projects selected under the previously announced joint federal and provincial Infrastructure Stimulus Investmentand Building Canada funds.
The announcement, made jointly by the Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities, and the Honourable George Smitherman, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, committed $2.26 billion in federal and provincial investments for 1373 specificinfrastructure projects. An additional $1.13 billion in matching funds from municipalities will bring the total investment in new and existing infrastructure in the province to just under $3.4 billion.
Approximately 75 per cent of the combined infrastructure funding will be dispersed among projects in the water/waste water, roads and public buildings segments.
In dollar terms, $995 million was allotted to Water and Waste Water projects. Although specific project details are not yet available, the announced funds are expected to include both distribution and treatment plant projects. Based on a 2004 estimate, Ontario water and waste water asset base consists of approximately 70 per cent distribution and 30 per cent treatment plant.
Another substantial portion of the announced funds ($994 million) was allocated for local road improvements.
Details on specific projects are expected to be made available shortly.