Ontario Investing in Small, Rural and Northern Communities

Funding will support economic growth and job creation in Simcoe North and Simcoe County

NEWS December 13, 2022

Simcoe North — The Ontario government is providing to help renew and rehabilitate local infrastructure in Simcoe North and Simcoe County. The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and is part of the government’s overall investment of $400 million in 2023.

“This funding will enable our local municipalities to build and repair the vital infrastructure needed to keep their communities functioning,” said MPP Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “The investment by the province ensures residents have access to the services they deserve now and decades ahead.”

OCIF provides funding to eligible communities every year to help them address critical infrastructure needs, including road, bridge, water and wastewater projects. In 2022 the Town of Penetanguishene used the majority of their OCIF funding to support the Chatham Street reconstruction project.

Below are the communities in Simcoe North as well as their 2023 allocation:

Simcoe County$4,703,092
Midland$795,051
Orillia$2,826,255
Penetanguishene$711,929
Ramara$444,356
Severn$903,370
Tay$961,508
Tiny$900,558

“Ontario’s small, rural and northern communities, like those in Simcoe North are essential to the growth and prosperity of the province,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Our government is continuing to provide stable funding to meet local infrastructure needs and provide support in response to pressures from inflation. By supporting key community infrastructure projects, we are helping to grow and build safer, more resilient communities for generations to come.”

In December 2021, the Ontario government announced an additional $1 billion for critical infrastructure projects that support economic growth and job creation in small, rural and northern communities, bringing the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion dollars over five years.

QUICK FACTS

  • OCIF supports local infrastructure projects by providing stable and predictable funding for rural and northern communities, as well as for communities with populations under 100,000.
  • Funding allocations are based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities.
  • In 2022, the government provided $400 million in funding through OCIF, an increase of $200 million from the previous year. Communities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES