CORNWALL – Local municipalities received news December 8 of an unexpected Christmas present, just in time as the municipal budget processes begin. Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell announced nearly $9 million in Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund money, more than double the previous year’s allocation.
“[This] will enable our municipalities to make even more important improvements to our roads, bridges, water, and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring local residents have the services they deserve,” said McDonell in announcing the funding.
The government said the funding is part of its plan to get more shovels in the ground for critical infrastructure projects.
Among the local municipalities receiving money are the City of Cornwall ($3.954 million), SDG Counties ($2.022 million), South Dundas ($814K), South Glengarry ($709K), South Stormont ($639K), North Dundas ($554K), North Glengarry ($489K) and North Stormont ($282K).
“With this investment, we are saying ‘yes’ to helping these communities build and repair the vital infrastructure they need to keep their communities working for decades to come,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
In addition to the new funding allocations, the province announced it was going to use a new funding formula for calculating govenrment support through the OCIF program. This forumla includes doubling the base munimum funding from $50,000 to $100,000.
More than 400 municipalities in Ontario receive funding though OCIF and that funding can be banked for up to five years to be used on large-scale critical projects.
This article was originally written for, and appeared in The Morrisburg Leader.
