Town of Gore Bay, Gordon/Barrie Island receive additional funds for critical infrastructure projects

ONTARIO—Nine Manitoulin Island municipalities are among the 116 communities that will receive predictable, formula-based funding through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). As well, the town of Gore Bay and the municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island will be receiving over $1.6 million to support two critical infrastructure projects in their communities.

Through the expanded OCIF, nine municipalities in the district of Manitoulin will receive a combined funding commitment of over $1.5 million in predictable formula funding over the next three years. This is in addition to the over $500,000 invested through the formula component since 2015. These nine municipalities include Assiginack Township, Billings Township, Burpee and Mills Township, Central Manitoulin, Cockburn Island, Gordon-Barrie Island, the Town of Gore Bay, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands and Tehkummah Township.

“We are very appreciative of this program, which provides for predictable, sustainable funding,” said Al Spacek, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM). “FONOM has been advocating for predictable, stable funding for quite a long time and now we have received this good news this will take place.”

The province has also committed over $1.6 million to support two critical infrastructure projects in Gore Bay and Gordon/Barrie Island through the OCIF application-based component. The municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island will receive up to $136,068 to replace and enlarge a culvert and install guardrails to enhance road safety. The Town of Gore Bay will receive up to $1,521,967 for the replacement of the existing  water main along Phipps Street.

“We are pretty happy, this is great news for us,” stated Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane. He explained the replacement of the existing water main takes in all of Phipps Street and includes in the work a new water line, replacement of curbs, an inspection of sewer and, if needed, additional fire hydrants being installed.

“We have already hired an engineer and had a survey done,” said Mayor Lane. “The engineer will be coming up with a construction plan for us and we will then tender for the contract. The construction will take place in the spring.”

Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury, on behalf of Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, made the announcements earlier this week. “In total, 116 towns in the Northeast will receive more than $58 million to upgrade community infrastructure. This is further proof that Ontario’s government remains committed to Northeastern Ontario and ensuring our economy is strong.”

“As a government, we are committed to working with communities across Ontario  to provide stable, predictable funding to build and repair priority infrastructure. Investments like this generate significant economic activity in local communities, create jobs and help maintain a strong regional business climate across the province,” said Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.