Kawartha Lakes: The safety and well-being of Canadians are top priorities of the governments of Canada and Ontario. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than Canadians’ personal health; it is also having a profound impact on the economy.
Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, was joined by Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, and Patrick O’Reilly, Deputy Mayor of Kawartha Lakes last week to announce funding for 30 projects that will modernize, expand and improve the accessibility and safety of public transit in communities across Central, North and Southern Ontario.
In the Municipality of Port Hope, the Town of Bancroft, the Town of Huntsville, and the City of Sarnia, public transit riders will have easier access to transit systems and more connected networks of cycling and walking paths.
These improvements include the purchase of new specialized and para-transit vehicles and the adaptation of routes to accommodate those who need para-transit services, as well as the upgrading of bike lanes, sidewalks, and multi-use trails.
Public transit users in the City of Orillia, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Midland, and the City of Timmins will benefit from modern transit technology, such as the installation of smart pay systems, security cameras, scheduling software, and live display panels in terminals, which will increase each transit system’s reliability, efficiency, and safety.
Finally, residents who rely on public transit in the Town of Cobourg, the City of Kawartha Lakes, the City of Stratford, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, the Town of Collingwood, the City of Elliot Lake, the Town of Orangeville, and the Town of Wasaga Beach will benefit from a more reliable and higher-quality public transit service provided by expanded bus fleets and upgraded bus terminals and shelters.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $23 million in these projects through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.
The Government of Ontario is providing over $19.1 million, while the municipalities are contributing more than $17.5 million in total toward these projects.
• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• $28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Ontario is investing $10.2 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture, and recreation; green, and rural and northern community infrastructure.
• The Government of Canada has invested more than $7.9 billion in over 2,600 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan.
• Across the province, Ontario is investing more than $7.3 billion in public transit infrastructure over 10 years through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemicresilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
• The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy innovative new ways to adapt spaces and services.