Office of Terry Sheehan

Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie

Investing in the riding of Sault Ste. Marie to respond to the impacts of COVID-19

For Immediate Release

June 10, 2021

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

The health and well-being of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Ontario. Communities across Canada are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and need immediate assistance to ensure their municipal and community infrastructure is safe and reliable.

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 in these unprecedented times. 

Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Economic Development (FedNor) announced on behalf of The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, funding of $100,000 for Prince Township towards municipal COVID renovations.  The Government of Canada is contributing $80,000 and The Government of Ontario is contributing $20,000 to these projects.

The Government of Canada funding, through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, was created to support municipalities as they respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows Government of Canada to invest up to 80% in projects that support provinces and up to 100% in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.

Quotes

“First of all, I want to thank Terry Sheehan for doing a great job on behalf of constituents and the residents of Prince Township.  We are receiving a total of $100,000 through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, $80, 000 (eighty percent) from the Government of Canada and $20,000 (twenty percent) from the Ontario Government.  This funding is much appreciated after a difficult past year and a challenging year ahead.  We will be using this funding as recommended to make improvements to existing infrastructure as we adapt to the changes made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mayor Ken Lamming, Prince Township

"By investing 80 cents on every dollar toward these important projects, initiated by Prince Township, the Government of Canada is responding to the immediate pressures and concerns of the community.  Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds stronger, more resilient communities.”

Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Economic Development (FedNor)

“Our government is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our community members and fostering economic growth in communities across the province as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19. By investing in local infrastructure, we’re promoting the health and safety of staff and the public and helping to create more jobs here at home.”

Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie

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. Ontario is investing $10.2 billion in this program.
• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure 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.
• Through the COVID-19 Resilience stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects.
• Under the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream, the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects is 80 per cent in the provinces, and 100 per cent in the territories and for projects intended for Indigenous communities.
• The Government of Canada has invested over $13.9 billion in more than 3,200 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan.

Associated links

Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/covid-19-resilience-eng.html

Canada Healthy Communities Initiative

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html

Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-on-eng.html#1

-30-

Media Contact:

Jennifer MacNab

613-406-1280 | [email protected]