Today, the Honourable Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Canada's Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development; and the Honourable Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes on behalf of Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure, announced funding for five road and bridge projects in Eastern Ontario. They were joined by Mayor François St-Amour, The Nation Municipality; Mayor Nancy Peckford, Municipality of North Grenville; and Frank Prevost, Warden, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
In The Nation, the Touchette Bridge will be rehabilitated, replacing the majority of its parts, including the floor beams, the deck, and the steel stringers. These upgrades will extend the lifespan of the bridge while increasing the flow of traffic, allowing motorists to get where they need to go faster. In addition, Mississippi Mills will see its Levi Bridge replaced, upgrading from a one-lane to a new two-lane bridge with new railings and guardrails, making it safer for drivers and pedestrians.
The remaining projects will see upgrades to major roads in each community. North Grenville will expand approximately 1.15 kilometers of County Road 43 from two to four lanes, adding new bike lanes and crosswalks in support of active transportation. Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will rehabilitate nearly 1.25 kilometers of County Road 2 leading to Morrisburg, improving the sidewalk entrances to local businesses to support economic growth. Finally, Cornwall's reconstruction of a portion of Lemay Street, which includes new bike lanes, sidewalks and a roundabout, will increase the safety of pedestrians and will improve the city's active transportation routes.
The Government of Canada is investing over $9 million in these projects through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $6.5 million for these important infrastructure projects in these communities while municipalities are contributing over $3 million in total towards the projects.
The governments of Canada and Ontario are working in collaboration with their partners to support jobs, improve communities and build confidence as we safely and sustainably restore economic growth.
Quotes
"Rural communities are vital to our country's economic, cultural, and social prosperity. Investments to upgrade bridges and improve the safety of our roads have a big impact on our communities, helping them thrive and remain competitive. During these unprecedented times, these projects will help create well-paying, sustainable jobs during the construction phase, and they will have enduring positive effects on each of the communities for many years to come."
Honourable Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Canada's Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
"Last July, I was proud to join United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Warden Pat Sayeau, North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford and MP Michael Barrett to announce our government's nomination of the County Road 43 expansion. This project, which includes over $3.3 million in provincial support, is what residents of our community have been waiting for. I can't wait to see shovels in the ground on this vital project that will improve safety, create jobs and strengthen our local economy."
The Honourable Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure
"The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is pleased to partner with the Government of Canada, and the Province of Ontario, to complete this multi-million dollar project to benefit the residents of South Dundas and the County as a whole. These important infrastructure projects will position our community as an important hub for commerce and tourism for years to come. We look forward to more partnerships with senior levels of government in the future and we thank all parties for their kind support and enthusiasm with respect to this particular project."
Frank Prevost, Warden, United Countries of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
"We're extremely happy to have Infrastructure Canada, with the help of our MP Francis Drouin, and the Province of Ontario, getting this funding of $2.1 million. It's a substantial amount of money on a project evaluated at about $2.5 million. Thank you to both levels of Government and I'm sure the residents of The Nation Municipality will be extremely appreciative of the work being done here. Again, thank you, to everybody involved."
François St-Amour, Mayor, Municipality of The Nation
"County Road 43 runs through the heart of Kemptville and serves as a major regional route in Eastern Ontario. On behalf of residents and businesses in North Grenville, and alongside Pat Sayeau, Warden for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, we are thrilled to move this important project forward with the leadership of both the federal and provincial governments."
Nancy Peckford, Mayor, Municipality of North Grenville
Quick facts
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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.
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$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.
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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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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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Central to Canada's Connectivity Strategy are historic new investments that are mobilizing up to $6 billion toward universal connectivity. They include a top-up to the Connect to Innovate Program, a new Universal Broadband Fund, and investments from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
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On June 3, 2020, Ontario announced it was investing $150 million to launch the Improving Connectivity in Ontario program to fund broadband infrastructure projects in rural, remote and underserved regions of Ontario. This is part of the province's $315 million initiative Up to Speed: Ontario's Broadband and Cellular Action Plan.
