Backgrounder – COMRIF Intake Two

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

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 Two, 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.

Eligible municipalities can submit one application per intake. The Application deadline for Intake Two is September 30, 2005. Intake Three will be launched in spring 2006. All COMRIF projects must be completed by March 31, 2009.

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

Intake One

There was a great deal of interest among Ontario municipalities in Intake One. In total, 356 applications were submitted, requesting federal and provincial assistance of more than $1.3 billion, for projects valued at over $2 billion.

COMRIF Intake One projects were announced on April 25, 2005. Over $249 million in 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.

For More Information

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