Ontario Building Critical Infrastructure in Bayham

Funding will help create jobs and support economic growth

NEWS                                                                                                                         October 18, 2024

BAYHAM — The Ontario government is investing $460,850 to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in Bayham. The funding will be delivered in 2025 through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and is part of the government’s $190 billion capital plan to build and expand more homes, highways, hospitals, transit and high-speed internet across the province.

“This investment continues to build on our government’s commitment to enhance the infrastructure that supports our small and rural communities,” said Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. “These funds will improve essential services and unlock new economic growth within our region.”

In 2025, Ontario will allocate $400 million in OCIF funding to help 423 small, rural and northern communities build roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure. Communities may accumulate funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.

“Small, rural and northern communities are essential to the growth and prosperity of Ontario,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “By providing direct and stable funding to these communities, our government is helping create local jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.”

“For a smaller municipality like ours, we are very appreciative of the financial assistance of upper levels of government for Bayham capital infrastructure renewal and rehabilitation projects. The OCIF Formula Funding helps supplement the capital tax levy for the municipality”, said Ed Ketchabaw, Mayor of Bayham. “This annual funding has helped the municipality improve its asset management plan funding and lifecycle renewal. Without the annual OCIF Formula Funding, infrastructure projects would fall behind for a rural municipality like Bayham and our infrastructure gap would continue to widen.”

The OCIF provides funding for local infrastructure projects in municipalities with populations under 100,000, rural and northern municipalities, as well as for Local Services Boards that own water or wastewater systems. Funding allocations are based on a formula that accounts for the different needs and economic conditions of each community.

QUICK FACTS

• In 2024, the government provided $400 million in funding through the OCIF to 425 communities.
• Starting in 2022, the government increased its investment for the OCIF by $1 billion over five years.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Ontario Builds: our infrastructure plan

Rob Flack, MPP

Elgin-Middlesex-London

Rob.flack@pc.ola.org