DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: Through her role as Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, local MPP Laurie Scott was part of a funding announcement last week that will see more than 200 million dollars allocated to infrastructure improvement in small, rural and northern communities. Joined by Premier Doug Ford in Parry Sound on Friday, January 17th, MPP Scott was part of the funding announcement. Through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), the provincial government pledged to continue to support municipalities as they build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure. The funding announced is a part of Ontario’s approximately 200 million dollar commitment to 424 communities across the province, addressing their core infrastructure projects and asset management planning needs in 2020. This year, the riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock will receive over 3 million dollars across eight municipalities, including the City of Kawartha Lakes receiving over 2 million dollars to address their local community infrastructure needs. “We are continuing to support our local municipal partners in creating jobs and stimulating economic growth, keeping our community thriving,” MPP Scott told The Standard. “This funding delivers more money to address local infrastructure priorities.” Elsewhere in the area, the three municipalities in North Durham are all set to receive funding in 2020 through the OCIF. They have allocated the Township of Brock more than $410,000, the Township of Scugog has been allocated just over $375,000 and the Township of Uxbridge will receive slightly more than $405,000 in allocated funds. Municipalities may accumulate their formula funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects. “This investment provides the predictable and stable infrastructure funding small, rural and northern municipalities have asked for,” added MPP Scott. “With this OCIF funding we are working directly with our municipal partners to deliver community infrastructure.”