Backgrounder — COMRIF Intake Three

The governments of Canada and Ontario and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) are working in partnership to improve and renew public infrastructure across the province through the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF).

The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing up to $298 million to COMRIF. With municipal investments, this program is expected to stimulate up to $900 million in capital investments over five years. COMRIF targets the infrastructure needs of small urban and rural communities with a population of fewer than 250,000 people.

Objective

COMRIF's objective is to ensure citizens in Ontario's small urban and rural municipalities enjoy a quality of life that is second to none, through sustainable infrastructure investments that:

• Enhance and renew Ontario's aging public infrastructure
• Improve the quality of the environment
• Protect the health and safety of citizens
• Support long-term economic growth
• Build strong, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need.

Priorities

The priorities for Intake Three are the same as for intakes One and Two: local bridges and roads, solid waste management, water and wastewater (i.e., sewage).

Funding for Intake Three

As set out in the COMRIF Agreement, less than half the funding allocated for each of the first two intakes is available for Intake Three

Program Eligibility and Application Information

Eligible applicants to COMRIF are municipalities with a population of fewer than 250,000, including Local Services Boards, Local Roads Boards, Statute Labour Boards and non-profit organizations in these communities.

For Intake Three, applicants are required to submit:

• A completed application form and business case;
• A technical schedule as appropriate;
• A mandatory questionnaire on federal and provincial policy directions; and
• A municipal council resolution endorsing the project as a priority.

The Application deadline for Intake Three is 5:00 p.m. EST on September 13, 2006. All COMRIF projects must be completed by March 31, 2009.

COMRIF is a competitive, merit-based program. Difficult decisions will have to be made during the Intake Three approval process, as the total amount of funding requested will likely exceed the allocation for this final intake.

Project Selection Criteria

As for intakes One and Two, the criteria for project selection are health and safety, public policy priorities and value for money.

Projects must also be supportive of federal and provincial policy directions such as investing in regional water and sewage systems, sustainable water and sewage systems (i.e., full-cost recovery), reducing greenhouse gases, economic development and increased waste diversion. 

Program Delivery

Canada and Ontario have created a Joint Federal-Provincial Secretariat to review and evaluate applications, and provide a single-window access point for municipal partners.

Operating Principles

Investments will be made according to a competitive, merit-based process.

Intakes One and Two

There has been a great deal of interest among Ontario municipalities in COMRIF.

COMRIF Intake Two projects were announced April 21, 2006. Over $235 million in joint federal-provincial funding was announced for 88 Ontario communities.

COMRIF Intake One projects were announced on April 25, 2005. Over $249 million in joint federal-provincial funding was announced for 120 Ontario communities.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario

AMO has been active in the design of COMRIF to ensure the program meets local priorities and needs. AMO will continue to provide the municipal perspective in the overall management of the program, and will disseminate COMRIF information to its membership.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 445 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario, and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system. For more information on AMO, visit www.amo.on.ca.

Extension of the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund in the Federal Budget 2006

Through tripartite initiatives such as the Infrastructure Canada Program and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada has helped municipalities in all parts of Canada undertake thousands of infrastructure projects such as improvements to water distribution and wastewater treatment.

To ensure that such assistance is maintained at current levels, the 2006 Federal Budget provides an additional $2.2 billion over five years to the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund to support further improvements to municipal infrastructure nationally.

Amounts committed to Ontario and other program details have not yet been confirmed. Details are still being worked out between Infrastructure Canada and the federal Department of Finance. Discussions between the federal and provincial governments are ongoing to determine next steps.

For More Information

For more information on COMRIF, visit www.comrif.ca or call 1-866-306-7827.