Although Chatham-Kent is receiving the maximum amount for infrastructure projects from the province, the municipality’s chief financial officer has said the cap of $10 million should be lifted.
Gord Quinton said Chatham-Kent’s needs exceed the $10 million it will receive in 2023 through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund. The funding formula the province uses would have resulted in more dollars if not for this restriction, he said.
“We are very disappointed that the province continues to disadvantage Chatham-Kent, where the province has previously downloaded former provincially-funded highways to us,” Quinton said in an email. “We continue to lobby for a change to this policy.”
Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay also received the maximum $10 million.
Overall, the province is providing $400 million in 2023 through the infrastructure fund. A news release from the province said the fund is meant to support economic development and job growth by helping municipalities renew critical infrastructure.
Chatham-Kent council passed a resolution in March calling on the provincial government to provide “predictable and fair” infrastructure funding by removing the cap for single-tier municipalities. As well, council asked the province to allow the formula to dictate the funds received.
The resolution was forwarded to the offices of the premier, the minister of finance, the minister of infrastructure and the minister of municipal affairs and housing, as well as local MPPs.
Andrea Chiappetta, spokesperson for Kinga Surma, Ontario’s minister of infrastructure, noted the province doubled the total investment through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund in 2022.
“In 2023, we will renew this record funding,” she said in an email. “This funding will help 425 small, rural and northern communities rehabilitate and renew their core infrastructure.”
Chatham-Kent’s portion increased from $5.3 million in 2021 to $10 million in 2022.
Chiappetta said the funding cap was based on recommendations of a third-party review of the fund. The maximum amount is 2.5 per cent of the total fund, which works out to $10 million again in 2023.
“This change was made to better support small and medium-sized communities,” she said.
“Joined by our provincial and territorial partners, Ontario continues to call on the federal government for new and flexible funding of $10 billion a year over 10 years to help communities meet the demand for infrastructure renewal.”
Quinton said the municipality will continue to discuss Chatham-Kent’s future infrastructure needs with the province.
More information on how the funding will be spent will be available once the municipality’s draft 2023 budget is released on Jan. 11.
“Chatham-Kent fully uses the OCIF funding annually to support bridge reconstruction and road resurfacing projects,” Quinton said. “Occasionally these projects continue into the next fiscal year and funds are carried forward.”