The Kenora-Rainy River area is the recipient of a $5.9 million investment by the Ontario government to help build and repair local infrastructure in the region.
“Today, our government has committed an additional $1 billion over the next five years to support small, rural and northern municipalities. This investment will create jobs, attract economic growth and investment, and make our communities the best places to live and grow,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora–Rainy River. “This year, Kenora–Rainy River will receive more than $5.9 million across 15 municipalities to address their local community infrastructure needs and repair local roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure.”
The additional $1 billion commitment by the province was one of the key topics included in the Fall Economic Statement, which over the next five years will assist rural, and northern communities to build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure.
The avenue in which the funding will be dispersed will be through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will bring the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion over the next five years.
“Our small, rural and northern communities will be at the forefront of our efforts to build Ontario for the future,” said Premier Doug Ford. “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.”
Funding allocations will be based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities across the province. The new formula will include an increased funding minimum of $100,000 for all communities per year, up from $50,000 over previous years.
“Communities are the heartbeat of this province and we know they are facing unique infrastructure needs and challenges, especially as we navigate through the pandemic,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Our government has been with them every step of the way. When we were told more funding supports were needed, we listened and acted in a meaningful way by providing the largest OCIF increase since the start of the program. By doing so, we’re providing stability and predictability to small, rural and northern communities to repair, upgrade, and modernize their critical infrastructure so that they are safer, healthier, and more reliable for all.”
The OCIF supports local infrastructure projects for communities with populations under 100,000, along with all rural and northern communities.
For 2021, approximately $200 million in funding was allocated to 424 small, rural and northern communities. Municipalities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.
Total investment in communities across Kenora - Rainy River are as follows:
Municipality Previous Year (2021) 2022 Grant
Township of Alberton $50,000 $100,000
Township of Chapple $50,000 $100,000
Township of Dawson $50,000 $100,000
City of Dryden $666,969 $1,190,328
Township of Emo $64,023 $136,423
Town of Fort Frances $682,746 $1,314,873
Township of Ignace $193,693 $341,309
City of Kenora $831,156 $1,787,706
Township of La Vallee $50,000 $100,000
Township of Lake of the Woods $50,000 $100,000
Township of Machin $65,298 $127,251
Township of Morley $50,000 $100,000
Town of Rainy River $145,918 $267,415
Redditt Local Services Board $50,000 $100,000
Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls $50,000 $100,000
