PROGRESS REPORT
CANADA-ONTARIO INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
INSIDE
- Investing in an Improved Quality of Life
- Canada's Infrastructure Programs"GREEN" INFRASTRUCTURE
Protecting the environment and quality of life in MuskokaSPORTS AND RECREATION
Modern, healthy communities in NiagaraCULTURE
Bruce County Museum and Archives charts new courseTRANSPORTATION
Ride the Rocket: Toronto Transit Commission's plans on track
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COIP means safe drinking water and future growth for Casselman
The Village of Casselman, located 30 minutes southeast of Ottawa, had a problem - alarms were going off. They were not the usual fire or security alarms that sometimes disturb the peace and quiet of small towns, but alarms at the water treatment plant, indicating that something had broken.
"The equipment was breaking down a lot," says Gilles Lortie, Village Clerk. "Most of it was installed in 1977-78, and the whole plant desperately needed an upgrade."
But upgrading is a very expensive proposition for a community of less than 3000 people. The situation spelled trouble for Casselman's growth, and for the economic and physical health of its inhabitants. But the approval of a carefully prepared Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) application has provided a solution.
A total investment of $2 990 685 under COIP has been made available to install new water treatment equipment in Casselman. This investment will include $996 895 from the Government of Canada, matching funds from the Province of Ontario, and the balance to be raised by the Village. Casselman's residents will benefit from the installation of two water treatment process units; new low-lift pumps, instrumentation and controls; and improvements to the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. "Green" municipal infrastructure is a top priority for COIP.
Today, the residents of Casselman can rest assured that their water will continue to be safe, and that there will be sufficient water available to sustain the growth of the Village. Moreover, they know that they can afford their share of the cost to make this happen.
"Without COIP, we would have had to borrow $2 million dollars, and the cost of carrying that load would have been very difficult for our taxpayers," says Lortie.
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INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN WATERLOO
Today, it's 100 acres of grassland and dirt, but over the next ten years it will evolve into the University of Waterloo's Research and Technology Park - Canada's newest home for innovation and excellence.
"According to our business plan, when completed the park is expected to provide 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the art research and development space, and support 6000 jobs," says Martin Van Nierop, Director of Information and Public Affairs at the University of Waterloo. "Its economic impact on Waterloo Region will be approximately $5 to $10 billion."
And thanks to a $13.4 million investment in the Park's infrastructure by the Government of Canada under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP), plus a matching amount contributed by the Province of Ontario, work is already under way. Workers are busy clearing land, building roads, and installing services for laying the park's high-speed fibre optic telecommunications network.
The COIP investment includes constructing a facility to serve as an "idea incubator" for professors, students and small start-ups wanting to bring their ideas to market; providing improvements to the 269-acre environmental reserve adjacent to the park; and upgrading the technological infrastructure in order to support a light rapid transit system.
"Support from COIP has helped get the project started by providing the money for the infrastructure," says Van Nierop. "It has helped get things off and running really smoothly."
By investing in the infrastructure to support the Research and Technology Park, the Government of Canada is helping to create a climate in which academic and business leaders can innovate and contribute to Canada's growth and economic competitiveness.
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Investing in an Improved Quality of Life
The Government of Canada understands that modern infrastructure is the foundation for the development of strong communities. It helps attract new economic development, retain existing businesses, and enhance the quality of life of citizens.
Canada's Innovation Strategy recognizes the importance of communities as a cornerstone of economic development. Communities are where the elements of a national, globally competitive innovation system come together.
Communities are also where people live, work and grow. Environmentally conscious investments in infrastructure play an important part in innovation, by improving the quality of life in those communities - making them safer, more rewarding places to live. Culture, recreation and services, along with the infrastructure necessary to support growing local economies, make Canada's communities magnets for innovators, companies and investment.
The Government of Canada is investing in infrastructure across the country through a variety of programs, including the Infrastructure Canada Program, the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, and the Border Infrastructure Fund. Additional commitments to infrastructure were also made in the 2002 Speech from the Throne.
Through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program, which is part of the Infrastructure Canada Program, $680.7 million has been dedicated to municipal infrastructure projects. The program's top priority is "green" municipal infrastructure, with investments focussing on water and wastewater management, health and safety, sports, culture, tourism, and innovation.
This Progress Report showcases how Government of Canada investments through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program are improving the quality of life in communities throughout Ontario, and giving them a better foundation for innovation and growth.
We are both actively involved in the delivery of the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program, and are pleased to share this Progress Report with you. Through its infrastructure programs, the Government of Canada continues to invest to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
Allan Rock
Minister of Industry and
Minister Responsible for Infrastructure
Andy Mitchell
Secretary of State
(Rural Development) (FedNor)
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CANADA'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS
Infrastructure Canada Program, which includes the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. Total investment: $2.05 billionCanada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Total investment: $2 billionBorder Infrastructure Fund. Total investment: $600 millionStrategic Highway Infrastructure Program. Total investment: $600 millionFederation of Canadian Municipalities "Green" Funds. Total investment: $250 millionAffordable Housing Program. Total investment: $680 millionCultural Spaces Canada. Total investment: $80 million
In the 2002 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada signaled a long-term commitment to infrastructure: "Working with provinces and municipalities, the government will put in place a ten-year program for infrastructure to accommodate long-term strategic initiatives essential to competitiveness and sustainable growth."
For more information, visit www.infrastructurecanada.gc.ca or call (613) 948-1148 or 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) (TTY/TDD: 1 800 465-7735).
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"Green" Infrastructure
Protecting the environment and quality of life in Muskoka
Picture a small but thriving community, situated on the shore of a lake in the heart of cottage and tourist country in the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. This is one of the prettiest areas in Canada - certainly not a place one would expect to have problems with septic systems.
However, in recent years septic systems have become a real problem for the residents of MacTier, Ontario, and the officials of the District Municipality of Muskoka. But thanks to a plan to install a new sewer system, that problem is about to be solved. The health and safety of MacTier's residents will be protected, and the integrity of the environment will be preserved.
At the heart of that plan lies a $2 715 000 investment by the Government of Canada under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP), with matching funds coming from the Province of Ontario. The District Municipality of Muskoka will contribute the balance of the $8 148 121 required for the project. This project is an example of improving "green" municipal infrastructure, a top priority of COIP.
Could it have been done without COIP assistance? "Absolutely not," says Tony White, Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works for Muskoka. "It simply would not have been feasible without their contribution."
Problems with MacTier's septic systems had been on the increase for years, potentially threatening the thriving local tourism industry. In 1997, a study disclosed that 29 individual properties had suspected problems with their tile beds; two communal tile beds were malfunctioning; 46 percent of municipal lots surveyed were too small to establish an adequate septic system; and nutrients and bacteria from sewage systems were entering local watercourses, and ultimately entering MacTier's Stewart Lake.
Now, thanks to the sewage plant and system soon to be built with the help of the COIP investment, MacTier's longstanding problems are almost over. It's a big step in the right direction, according to White. "Not only will residents not have to worry about repairing and replacing their septic systems, but the community can continue to grow without concern about damaging the environment. Preservation of our natural environment is our number one priority in Muskoka."
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Communities across Ontario are being supported by the Government of Canada, through COIP, in the improvement of local water management. For example, a $2 544 125 Government of Canada investment will allow the Town of Kapuskasing to refurbish its existing water treatment plant, thereby improving the drinking water quality for more than 2600 households. In the Town of Innisfil, a $473 543 investment from the Government of Canada will improve water treatment equipment and processes for 5,329 households - a project that has been identified as the town's highest health and safety priority.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie will receive $20 181 333 from the Government of Canada to upgrade the City's wastewater treatment system. The Municipality of Leamington will receive $2 155 892 from the Government of Canada to construct a new headworks facility at the Leamington Pollution Control Centre. In the Town of Georgina, $16 000 000 has been invested to construct a communal water distribution system and a sewage collection system. Each project will have a significant impact on the quality of life of local citizens.
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Sports And Recreation
Modern, healthy communities in Niagara
Building strong kids, strong families and strong communities was personified at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new YMCA of Niagara Community Centre.
"Many grandparents brought their grandchildren to be part of this ceremony," explains Pat Davis, General Manager, YMCA of Niagara. "They wanted their grandchildren to be able to say, 'I remember when . . . ' - people just want to be part of this."
The community has outgrown the current 35-year-old YMCA building, which has poor air handling and heating systems, and a roof that seems to spring a new leak with each change in season. The new facility will be on the Welland Campus of Niagara College.
The Government of Canada, through Industry Canada, and the Government of Ontario, through SuperBuild, will each contribute up to $2 000 000 to the project under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. The YMCA of Niagara's Welland Branch, along with various other community partners that include Niagara College, the City of Welland, and the Town of Pelham, will invest the balance of the project's total eligible cost of $10 294 905.
"Strength in partnership is key," states Davis. "All partners have come together to ensure this becomes a reality."
The new facility will more than double the size of the original building. It will be close to public transportation and will house a gymnasium, locker rooms, child and adult multi-purpose spaces, and the only indoor aquatic centre in Central Niagara. The barrier-free facility will be designed to suit all age groups, and all levels of ability. The YMCA will continue to encourage sport and recreation in the region and will create employment in its construction and ongoing operation.
By renewing the YMCA's infrastructure, the Government of Canada is investing in the creation of modern, healthy communities, and supporting an improved quality of life for Niagara residents.
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In the City of Greater Sudbury, hockey players, figure skaters and their fans have received an investment in their quality of life from the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. The Government of Canada has invested $337 415 to upgrade 16 community arenas.
The Separated Town of St. Marys will soon see the development of the St. Marys and Area Seniors Recreation Centre, thanks to a $210 000 investment from the Government of Canada. Seniors of the community will have access to a variety of improved programs and services.
Residents of the City of Kenora will soon be enjoying a newly renovated and expanded recreation facility, made possible by the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. A $1 000 000 investment was made by the Government of Canada in order to improve the Kenora Recreation Centre.
The Glengarry Highland Games, held annually in Maxville, Ontario, celebrates local Scottish heritage and culture. A $289 500 Government of Canada investment will allow the Games to build two new covered grandstands, and to upgrade the existing grandstands, helping to preserve this important tourist and cultural facility.
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Culture
Bruce County Museum and Archives charts new course
Bruce County Museum and Archives, located in Southampton, Ontario (population approximately 2500), is soon to experience the biggest change in its history. This change is a result of the county council's recent decision to go ahead with an almost $6 million upgrading and expansion project, assisted by a COIP investment from the Government of Canada.
"We now have the resources to create not just the best community museum in Ontario, but the best in Canada," says Barbara Ribey, the Museum and Archives' Director.
The council's decision culminates a 12-year campaign by friends of the museum to upgrade and expand the 1878 building. Despite growing use and a deteriorating physical structure, little progress has been made until now.
"County council was encouraged by the fact that the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario were prepared to come on board, and decided that this was the time to get on with things," says Ribey. The Government of Canada's investment in the project amounts to $500 000, with an additional $500 000 coming from the Province of Ontario, and the balance (just over $7 million) being absorbed by Bruce County.
When the renovations and addition are completed in the fall of 2004, the museum will be 15 000 square feet larger, and improved throughout. It will offer better gallery space, a theatre, and additional space for meetings, educational sessions and conferences. All of these spaces will be fully accessible to people with physical disabilities. As well, the museum will have an appropriate environment for archival preservation.
In the end, the Museum and Archives will be able to offer Bruce County's entire community a wider range of heritage and cultural programs and activities. And for everyone visiting the museum, local residents and tourists alike, it will provide a unique opportunity to relive the history of the area, particularly the county's rich maritime history.
"We're charting a whole new course," says Ribey. "It is a rebirthing of not only the museum buildings but of our exhibits and programming as well."
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More cultural investments have been made across the province! The Government of Canada will make a $2 562 244 investment in the development of the Regional Quinte Cultural Centre, including a new public library, in the City of Belleville.
The City of London will receive $2 500 000 to build the John Labatt Centre, a venue for first class entertainment, travelling shows, concerts and national and international sporting events.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton will receive $5 000 000 to refurbish and strengthen its status as a world-class art gallery.
And thanks to a $113 500 000 investment in the Greater Toronto Area's cultural infrastructure, Toronto will remain a world-class destination for tourism and a magnet for investors. Institutions that will benefit from the investment include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Canadian Opera Company, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Ballet School, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, and Roy Thomson Hall.
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Transportation
Ride the Rocket: Toronto Transit Commission's plans on track
Owning and operating a motor vehicle these days is a very expensive proposition. For most of us with only one or two cars it's manageable, but for an organization running 1480 buses, 248 streetcars, 692 subway cars, 28 Scarborough RT (rapid transit) cars, and all the stations and infrastructure that go with it - not to mention employing 10 185 employees - well, it's more than a little challenging.
This is the situation faced every day by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), considered by transit experts worldwide to be one of the best, most highly integrated transit systems in the world. The TTC doesn't just move people around the Greater Toronto Area - it is a key player in the social fabric, economic health, and growth of Canada's largest urban area. Having transported approximately 24 billion riders to jobs, schools, friends, family and community venues since it was founded in 1921, the system continues to affect the quality of life, as well as the economic growth, of tens of thousands of Toronto residents every day. And those numbers are increasing - the TTC carries one billion riders every 30 months.
Maintaining the system at a high level of service is incredibly expensive, and the TTC often faces budget shortfalls. That's why the $62.3 million in funding invested by the Government of Canada in 2002 under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) was so important, says TTC's Chief General Manager, Rick Ducharme. An additional $14 million is expected to be invested through COIP in 2003, bringing the Government of Canada's total investment up to $76 million.
"The monies required to run a large municipal transit system are so large that, realistically, you need contributions from all three levels of government," says Ducharme.
The COIP funds will go towards assisting the TTC's 10-year capital modernization and improvement program, which includes (among other projects) streetcar rehabilitation and renewal; subway safety modernization (including the installation of elevators for the disabled); replacement of tracks; the acquisition of new subway cars; the installation of "Intelligent Transportation Systems" using the latest technology; the general modernization of electrical, communication and sprinkler systems; and much more.
Ducharme is careful to point out that this money isn't for "extras." He says, "The COIP funds will be used primarily to keep the existing system running safely and efficiently."
And what if the Government of Canada hadn't assisted? "If we couldn't afford to replace our aging infrastructure and ensure safety, then we were looking at paring back our system," says Ducharme.
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The City of Ottawa will be receiving some much-needed assistance from the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program for improving its transportation infrastructure. The Government of Canada is investing a total of $32 900 000 to support municipal infrastructure priorities for improvements to Innes Road, Terry Fox Drive, Woodroffe Avenue and Fallowfield Road.
Thanks to a $1 866 667 contribution from the Government of Canada, the City of London will widen Commissioner's Road, a major east-west route that services the southern half of the city, between Wharncliffe Road and Wellington Road.
The County of Renfrew will be receiving $750 000 from the Government of Canada to replace the old, single-lane Springtown Bridge with a modern, wider structure that can accommodate heavier loads.
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To find information on these and other COIP projects across Ontario, please contact us:
Communications Division
Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program
Industry Canada
151 Yonge St., 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON
M5C 2W7
Toll-free: 1 877 806-7776
E-mail: coip-pico@ic.gc.ca
Web site: www.ic.gc.ca/coip-pico
Cat. No. Iu4-26/2002
ISBN 0-662-67016-7
53833B