That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.
Ontarians need help getting safely to work and home, getting to appointments, to shop and to conduct business. Strategic investments in sustainable public transit and active transportation, as well as road and bridge infrastructure play a key role.
Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development; the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure; and his Worship Al McDonald, Mayor of North Bay, announced funding for 15 projects that will better help residents of North Bay and surrounding communities get to where they need to go.
Improvements to the North Bay Transit terminal, new bicycle storage areas at key cycling destinations, and bicycle racks on buses will make it easy for riders to transition between active transportation and public transit. Improvements to para-transit buses, new bus shelters with solar-powered lighting, and new digital bus stop signs, will improve safety and accessibility. The implementation of "transit-on-demand" will allow North Bay's transit service to shift from a fixed-route schedule to a responsive on-demand scheduling system during evening and Sunday service.
In Chisholm, upgrades to Alderdale Road will improve safety for emergency vehicles and commuters. In Mattawa, improvements to Dorion Road will improve winter driving conditions and provide better drainage. For residents of Mattawan, the replacement of Murphy Road Bridge will make the bridge more accessible for school buses and other vehicles. Cyclists in Powassan will benefit from better riding conditions with upgrades to Maple Hill Road.
Together, these investments will make it easier for residents to get around their communities safely, improve the experience of public transit users, and make roadways more accessible for motorists and cyclists.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $13.4 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) and the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream (RNIS) of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is providing over $8.9 million, while the municipalities of North Bay, Chisholm, Mattawa, Mattawan and Powassan are contributing more than $8.7 million for these projects.
Quotes
"Improvements to public transit systems, active transportation, roads and bridges are essential to building sustainable communities. Investments in North Bay's transit system will help residents get to where they need to go. In Mattawan, Mattawa, Chisholm and Powassan, residents and visitors will benefit from better and safer roadways. These projects are great examples of working with the province and municipalities to build infrastructure that serves Northern Ontario communities."
Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"These long-awaited improvements to transit infrastructure in North Bay and other communities in Nipissing will improve safety and accessibility for public transit users, cyclists and motorists alike. Commuters in Northern Ontario often face unique challenges, and the modernization of our public transit system will mean more efficient and faster travel experiences. The success of these new projects are a testament to what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together."
The Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure
"With this investment in our public transit system we will be able to move ahead with important infrastructure improvements and implement new transportation initiatives that will enhance services and create efficiencies. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to both PS Sheehan and Minister Vic Fedeli for their continued support of our city and our citizens."
His Worship Al McDonald, Mayor of the City of North Bay
Quick facts
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Through the Investing in Canada 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.
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The Government of Canada has invested more than $7.9 billion in over 2,600 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan.
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Ontario is investing $10.2 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture and recreation; green, and rural and northern community infrastructure.
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To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/covid-19-resilience-eng.html
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The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy innovative new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.htmlinfrastructure
