Canada and Ontario Launch Intake Two of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund

For immediate release — June 16, 2005

Ontario residents to benefit from more improvements to local communities

TORONTO — The governments of Canada and Ontario today delivered on their commitment to launch Intake Two of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) in spring 2005.

Intake Two will address the infrastructure priorities of municipalities: local bridges and roads, solid waste management, water and wastewater (i.e., sewage). These are the same priorities as for Intake One.

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

Projects must be supportive of federal and provincial policy directions such as reducing greenhouse gases, sustainable water and sewage systems, economic development and increased waste diversion.

"Today, we are pleased to launch the second intake of COMRIF," said Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) and federal minister responsible for the implementation of COMRIF. "Building on the success of the first intake, we have worked with our partners to ensure the second intake of COMRIF continues to address community infrastructure priorities." The Government of Canada's funding for this initiative is provided for within the existing federal fiscal framework, added Minister of State Comuzzi.

"We will continue to work together with the federal government and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to ensure that the design and delivery of COMRIF meets the needs of Ontario's small urban and rural municipalities," said John Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Supporting local infrastructure renewal is part of our government's plan to build healthy, strong communities."

"COMRIF is an important tri-lateral partnership. It demonstrates that investment in sustainable municipal infrastructure in our communities is a shared federal, provincial and municipal responsibility," said Roger Anderson, AMO President.

"COMRIF is an excellent example of the Government of Canada's New Deal for Cities and Communities in action," said John Godfrey, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities). "By working with our partners on infrastructure programs such as this one, the federal government is helping to ensure our communities are great places to live with safe drinking water, efficient public transit and economic opportunities while meeting our objectives in areas such as climate change."

"This is a major step forward for communities across the province," said David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. "Collaborative programs such as COMRIF are addressing the priorities that Ontario communities say are most important – restoring our local roads and bridges, improving our water and wastewater services and waste management and other priorities."

Municipalities of fewer than 250,000 people will be able to apply to Intake Two. Materials, including the application, guidebook and technical schedules are now available at www.comrif.ca. Municipalities will be able to submit their applications online beginning July 25, 2005. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2005.

Under the five-year, $900-million COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with AMO and local partners to improve the quality of life in small urban and rural communities by supporting sustainable infrastructure. Green infrastructure is COMRIF's top priority with 55 per cent of funding for projects involving water quality, sustainable communities, climate change, and innovation.

For further information on the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.comrif.ca.

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Contacts:

Pat Vanini
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
416-971-9856

Graeme Wilkes
Office of the Minister of State (FedNor)
613-947-5850

Patti Munce
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
416-585-6333

Carla Ventin
Office of the Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities)
613-948 2688

Wilson Lee
Office of the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal
416-325-8735