Investing in Greater Sudbury to respond to the impacts of COVID-19

The health and well-being of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Ontario. Communities across Canada are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and need immediate assistance to ensure their municipal and community infrastructure is safe and reliable.That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times.
 
Today, Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre, Stephen Crawford, Parliamentary Assistant to the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, and Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger announced more than $1.25 million joint funding through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for two key pieces of Sudbury’s infrastructure.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $447,000 to rehabilitate the one kilometre paved loop at the Delki Dozzi Regional Park in Sudbury, with $111,000 coming from the Province of Ontario. The work will involve installing a granular base and asphalt, and replacing existing light standards with 26 new LED lighting standards.

The federal government will also contribute $580,000 upgrade the service counter, re-configure offices and meeting rooms, improve the HVAC, sprinkler, surveillance and access control systems, and install permanent barriers between staff and the public at Tom Davies Square. The province will contribute $145,000 to the project.

In all, The Government of Canada is investing more than $12 million in Northern Ontario municipalities through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $3 million.

The COVID-19 stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows Government of Canada to invest up to 80% in projects that support provinces and up to 100% in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.

Quotes

“Thanks to this funding, we will be able to rehabilitate a well-used and loved bike path in Sudbury. These upgrades will be a welcome investment, facilitating active lifestyles, increased connectivity, and expanded active transportation in our community."
Paul Lefebvre, Member of Parliament for Sudbury

“Infrastructure in all forms whether recreational or municipal plays a key role in the economical and social success of communities. The improvements at Delki Dozzi will help promote safe physical activity, something that is so crucial for health especially through this pandemic. I also commend our government for prioritizing investments that create safer access to municipal services for Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury residents and keep hard working public servants at Tom Davies Square protected.”
Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

“I’m so excited to join all of you virtually to celebrate a new piece of recreational infrastructure coming to your community. As we’re all doing our part to keep our communities safe, it’s also important to maintain an active lifestyle to stay healthy. With the new paved loop at the Delki Dozzi Regional Park, you can get your hearts pumping and your step-counter working! Congratulations to the City of Greater Sudbury for putting this project forward, and thanks to the Federal government for being a partner with this project. Looking forward to seeing it when we can all safely travel again!”
The Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure

"The global pandemic has meant unprecedented changes for all of us. As a community, more and more of us are getting out to take advantage of Greater Sudbury’s incredible parks, trails and other outdoor spaces. As a corporation, we have made changes to the way we do business to safely support staff, residents and businesses. I would like to thank our federal and provincial partners for responding to our needs and making these much-needed investments in our local infrastructure.”
Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities. Ontario is investing $10.2 billion in this program.
• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
• Through the COVID-19 Resilience stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects.
Under the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure stream, the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects is 80 per cent in the provinces, and 100 per cent in the territories and for projects intended for Indigenous communities.
• The Government of Canada has invested over $13.9 billion in more than 3,200 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan.

Associated links

2021 Delki Dozzi Bike Track Funding Announcement / Project Profile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t59xAad6beQ

Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/covid-19-resilience-eng.html

Canada Healthy Communities Initiative
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html

Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-on-eng.html#1