Connecting people and places in Northern Ontario with road and bridge improvements

SPANISH, ON, Aug. 23, 2019 /CNW/ - Modern and reliable roadways help to connect communities, while improving residents' quality of life and positioning the regions for growth.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, on behalf of the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and Jocelyne Bishop, Mayor of the Municipality of Spanish announced funding for six road and bridge improvement projects in Northern Ontario. Marc Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources also participated in the event.

In the town of Spanish the project will see the rehabilitation of Algoma Street and Colonization road, this will include 1.2 kilometres of roadway, including road alignment, and sightline improvements. This project will provide better efficiency and safety for drivers.

Bruce Mines, Cockburn Island, Northeastern Manitoulin and The Islands and Plummer Additional will also receive funding to improve local road conditions. Central Manitoulin will receive funding for the replacement of the Union Road Bridge. Some projects will add or improve active transportation options for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $4 million in these six projects through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The provincial and municipal governments will be responsible for the remaining funding.

Quotes

"Connecting people and places is key to providing opportunities for all Canadians. Improving local roads and bridges for Northern Ontarians will support the long-term success and prosperity of these communities."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North

"We are pleased with this announcement and thank both the Federal and Provincial Governments for their contribution towards the Rehabilitation of Algoma Street and Colonization Road.  This road system provides our local and travelling tourists access to several of our waterfront businesses fronting of the beautiful Spanish River."

Jocelyne Bishop, Mayor of the Municipality of Spanish

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure 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.
• $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity.
• The federal share of investments for communities with fewer than 5,000 residents covers up to 60% of the total eligible costs.
• On June 27, 2019, the Government of Canada launched two new strategies: Canada's Connectivity Strategy, which commits to connect all Canadians to high-speed internet, and Canada's first Rural Economic Development Strategy, which will spur economic growth and create good, middle class jobs for rural Canadians across the country.
• The Rural Economic Development Strategy leverages ongoing federal investments and provides a vision for the future, identifying practical steps to take in the short term, and serving as a foundation to guide further work.

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Backgrounder: Connecting people and places in northern Ontario with road and bridge improvements

Backgrounder

Connecting people and places in northern Ontario with road and bridge improvements

Joint federal, provincial and municipal funding through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan will support six local roads and bridges improvements projects in Ontario.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $4 million in these six projects through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream. The province and municipalities are responsible for the remaining project costs.

Project Information:

Associated links

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/on-eng.html

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Rural Opportunity, National Prosperity: An Economic Development Strategy for Rural Canada:
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/rural/strat-eng.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada