Ontario, federal and municipal governments collaborate to keep CCBF alive

DAN CEARNS The Standard

DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: Multiple levels of government have come together to keep an infrastructure support grant going.

On Wednesday, June 5th, a joint statement was released, from Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, and Colin Best, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), regarding the renewal of the Canada Community-Building fund (CCBF).

“The three levels of government have finalized a Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) agreement, [to] ensure critical infrastructure which supports housing continues to be built, maintained, and expanded. The renewal of this agreement means, our communities’ roads, bridges, and transit systems will be positioned to accommodate growth,” the statement read.

The statement explained, this fund “provides predictable and sustainable funding for communities, to make sure municipalities can keep making the investments their communities need.”

The federal government is investing $4.7 billion into this fund, over the next five years.

“We recognize the importance of infrastructure in increasing Canada’s housing supply. By working together to strategically invest in projects aligned with regional housing goals, we will help increase the number of affordable homes in Ontario,” the joint statement explained.

Infrastructure Canada’s website states, this fund “allows local communities to make strategic investments in essential infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities.”