$38M announced for community infrastructure projects
The federal and provincial governments have announced funding of nearly $38 million that will be directed to 35 community infrastructure projects across Ontario.
At more than $9.6 million, the largest of the projects sees renovations and retrofits to the Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nation High School in Thunder Bay. The project involves repairs to the leaking roof, replacement of the sewage and water pipes, and upgrades to the HVAC, electrical and sprinkler systems. Other work includes asbestos abatement, the installation of new flooring, the reconstruction of one of the entrance ramps, and repairs to the service elevator.
The governments have also earmarked more than $8.4 million for work at the Pelican Falls First Nation High School. This includes upgrades to the HVAC, geothermal and mechanical systems, updates to the plumbing and electrical, repairs to the roof, the installation of a back-up generator, upgrades to the sewage system and the water plant, and the replacement of the windows, and complete interior upgrades.
“The Ontario government is investing to ensure that students are able to learn in modern, state-of-the-art classrooms, and that they are better protected from COVID-19 through improved ventilation and space for distancing in schools across Ontario,” said Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “With these investments, we are ensuring that Indigenous students benefit from a return to a more normal, full-time and in-person learning experience."
Other announced projects include the Matawa Education and Care Centre gymnasium upgrade project in Thunder Bay. At $3.8 million, the project involves the construction of a new gymnasium at the facility. Once completed, this project will provide a dedicated space for health and physical education programming and will support the Matawa Education and Care Centre’s holistic approach to well-being, providing residents with a space to do activities where they can stay fit and healthy.
"The upgrade of the Matawa Education and Care Centre gymnasium has been a dream for our students since September 2017 — the Matawa Education Authority have the plans in place and are anxious to get it started,” said Robinson Meshake, Board of Directors President for Matawa First Nations Management. “It will be dedicated space for health and physical education programming that will reduce the potential for exposure to COVID-19 without the need to use another organization’s gymnasium facility."
Also being announced is the expansion of the Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Treatment Centre located in Sioux Lookout. The scope of the $1.8-million project involves renovations to a former school which will provide a safe and welcoming healing space that supports land-based and traditional practices and will support the Centre’s expansion of its treatment program in order to increase the number of youth served. Once completed this will allow the Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Treatment Centre to provide a long-term residential treatment program for Indigenous and Northern Ontario communities.
Additional investments in other community infrastructure projects across Ontario include the installation of portable classrooms in a number of Indigenous communities including Eabametoong First Nation, Aroland First Nation, Fort Severn First Nation, Webequie First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Long Lake First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, and Nibinamik First Nation. Other projects include upgrades to Alternative Secondary Schools in Ottawa, Hamilton, Red Lake, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Fort Frances, Kenora, and Fort Erie. Meanwhile, a Clean Water and Wastewater Fund project in Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek will upgrade the community’s sewage lagoon which will improve the environment and receiving water source.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $30 million in the projects through its various streams of the Investing in Canada Program. The Government of Ontario is providing over $7.5 million to the projects, while the Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Treatment Centre is investing $121,061, and the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre is investing $9,776 in their respective projects.
The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 percent of eligible costs for projects in provinces, and up to 100 per cent for projects in territories and Indigenous communities. The Government of Ontario will invest 20 percent of the eligible costs for projects across the province.