April 12, 2007

Statement to the Legislature: Concerning the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative
David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share an important accomplishment today with the House. It follows upon the commitment to strengthen Ontario’s rural communities in the 2007 Ontario Budget, delivered on March 22 by my colleague, the Honourable Greg Sorbara, Ontario Minister of Finance.

Through the budget, our government is investing $140 million under the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative, part of our ongoing commitment to help rural and small communities of this province provide safe and reliable local infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, this one-time, $140 million investment doubles the funds initially committed to the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative when this program was first launched in September 2006. It is a significant enhancement to the $185 million commitment to assist farmers and rural communities announced by Premier McGuinty at that time.

Ontario’s small and rural municipalities have told us that they need stronger local infrastructure, including safer bridges and roads; dependable water and wastewater systems; better solid waste management processes; improved sports, recreational and cultural facilities; and reliable community energy systems.

And, Mr. Speaker, we have responded to that need through this new investment.

These new funds will foster economic growth and promote a higher quality of living for the people in these communities, all across Ontario.

In fact, today I was in the Village of Winchester with my colleague, MPP Jim Brownell, to participate in a event announcing a grant of more than $738,000 to help this community. Local officials there told me that these funds will be used to revitalize 100 Club Park, the largest recreation area in the township.

One hundred and ninety communities across Ontario received a share of this $140 million investment. Communities applied for this funding, and their applications were evaluated against a set of criteria established to ensure that projects meet Ontario’s priorities, and have a positive economic and social impact on the local economy.

Our government is allocating this funding now to address critical infrastructure needs, so that municipalities can move forward in the 2007 construction season.

Mr. Speaker, our government has made strategic choices to sustain and stimulate public infrastructure in Ontario.

To this end, the $140 million Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative builds on ReNew Ontario, this government’s $30 billion infrastructure investment plan – one of the largest such investments in more than a generation. By doubling our original commitment to $140 million, we are further demonstrating our support for Ontario families living in rural and small communities.

As Ontario’s Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, I am very proud to share this announcement with you today. And I am very proud of what this investment will mean in improving the quality of life of Ontarians who live in small and rural communities.

Thank you.