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News and information from and for Ontario’s construction industry
The Link2Build group publishes news and information about the Ontario construction industry daily. Check here for the latest in trends, developments and insight from a wide variety of contributors, and visit regularly for updated information.
Province announces road construction funding in Northern Ontario
Published: October 18, 2019
The Ontario government announced more than $5 million in funding for road reconstruction in Northern Ontario on October 17.
Of that sum, $3.9 million will be used in Kenora to fully reconstruct 1.7 kilometres of road on Railway Street and 10th Avenue South, and to fix potholes, replace sidewalks, and add on-road cycling lanes and new street lighting. A further $1.4 million will be directed to replace the asphalt surface and curbs, and repair sidewalks along Van Horne Avenue in Dryden.
Premier Doug Ford and Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Indigenous Affairs, made the announcement at Bowman Electric in Kenora.
"I know many Northerners are fed up about the delays in road repairs in the region," said Ford. "Fixing these roads is a matter of safety for Northern drivers, especially when it comes to winter driving."
"Keeping people and goods moving in Kenora-Rainy River and across Northern Ontario is a priority for this government," said Rickford. "Funding critical road reconstruction in Kenora and Dryden improves our local infrastructure and supports our plan to develop our economy in Northwestern Ontario."
The combined investments from the provincial and local governments in Kenora means approximately $8.7 million will be spent on road reconstruction in that city. Dryden will receive $3.1 million worth of combined funding for its projects.
Over the past two years, the province has approved approximately $5 million in funding for road infrastructure projects on designated connecting links in Dryden, Fort Frances and Rainy River. Connecting links are major municipal roads that connect two ends of a highway through a community or to a border.
Over the next 10 years, the government plans to invest as much as $144 billion in local infrastructure projects across the province, including in schools, hospitals, transit, roads and highways. As part of this investment, the province aims to support municipalities in building or repairing critical infrastructure through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The program includes approximately $250 million in federal funding over 10 years through the Rural and Northern stream to strengthen communities.
Ontario has already nominated 144 road, bridge, air and marine projects under the ICIP’s Rural and Northern stream. Fifty-four of these projects have received federal approval. The province is further nominating 46 public transit projects in Northern Ontario to the federal government for funding under the ICIP, and will commit $54.4 million to these projects.
Largest First Nation wind project in Canada now complete
Published: October 17, 2019
Construction of the country’s largest single-phase wind facility and the largest on-reserve wind installation is officially complete.
Officials from the Pattern Energy Group LP and Nigig Power Corporation announced completion of the 300-megawatt (MW) Henvey Inlet Wind power facility in Pickerel, Ontario on the northeast shore of the Georgian Bay on October 15. Pattern Development and Nigig Power Corporation are joint-venture partners in the facility.
"This landmark project is a first on many fronts: largest single-phase wind facility in Canada, largest on-reserve wind installation in the country, and the first to develop a First Nation Environmental Stewardship Regime under the First Nations Lands Management Act," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development. "It's an honour to partner with Henvey Inlet First Nation on this historic project that created hundreds of local jobs and is now providing a strong new source of revenue for the First Nation.
Henvey Inlet Wind uses 87 Vestas 3.45 MW turbines with a 136-meter rotor diameter and 132-metre hub height. A 104-kilometer transmission line delivers electricity generated by the facility to the Ontario electricity grid. Henvey Inlet Wind has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator for 100 percent of its production. The facility will create clean, home-grown energy for 100,000 homes each year.
At the peak of construction, there were approximately 1,000 workers on site. Nearly one-third of the construction workers were First Nations citizens. Now operational, Henvey Inlet Wind employs up to 20 permanent full-time staff and is expected to create demand for more than 100 ongoing indirect workers, including maintenance contractors.
The construction process generated approximately $25 million in direct economic activity for local First Nations businesses. The facility is expected to generate more than $10 million in income annually for Henvey Inlet First Nation.
"Now that construction is complete, we can begin to look forward to economic independence as a community," said Greg Newton, CEO of Nigig Power Corporation. "Our youth will see an even brighter future from expanding health and education services along with increased infrastructure."
"The wind farm's completion marks a historic moment for Henvey Inlet First Nation," added Chief Wayne McQuabbie of Henvey Inlet First Nation. "New infrastructure is under way in the First Nation as a result of this new facility and we see better days ahead. We've already increased our administrative staff and employees in the community and we look forward to ensuring a positive future for our upcoming generations, including economic spin offs and job security. As Anishinabek, we are proud to contribute to a green economy and are proactively moving forward in a time of climate change."
Henvey Inlet Wind has made separate commitments to four key regions along the project's 104 km transmission line through the establishment of a Community Benefits Program that will contribute $1 million to the following four municipalities over the first 20 years of facility operations: The Municipality of McDougall, Township of Seguin, Township of Carling, and Township of the Archipelago.
The Community Benefits Program enables municipalities to fund projects that benefit residents, including: advancing community initiatives; enhancing ecological preservation, restoration or education; fostering individual and community health and wellness; and promoting the needs of youth development through education or recreation.
Canada House conference centre receives $400,000
Published: October 16,2019
The Ontario government announced a $400,000 investment in a new conference centre in Killarney on October 9. The funding was announced by parliamentary assistant Dave Smith on behalf of Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines.
The project was completed earlier this year, and the lodge is now open. The conference centre, built with locally sourced logs and stone, can accommodate 400 people with two large conference rooms, 10 breakout rooms, a fitness facility and two kitchens. It is considered to be the largest log-built conference facility in the world.
"Our government is committed to creating good jobs and helping local economies grow," said Smith. "This investment will drive growth and tourism in the region."
"We most definitely appreciate the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation in their commitment to assist in our vision of job creation and building a Canada House in one of Canada's crown jewels," said Holden Rhodes, owner of Killarney Mountain Lodge. "This will go a long way in establishing Killarney as one of the best tourism destinations in Canada."