Ontario Investing in Small, Rural and Northern Communities

January 5, 2023

The Ontario government is investing $400 million in critical infrastructure for small, rural and northern communities. The funding is being delivered in 2023 through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will support economic growth and job creation in 425 communities across the province.

“Ontario’s small, rural and northern communities are essential to the growth and prosperity of the province,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “As part of our plan to build Ontario, our government is continuing to provide stable funding to meet local infrastructure needs and provide support in response to pressures from inflation. By supporting key community infrastructure projects, we are helping communities attract jobs and build local capacity to grow and thrive for generations to come.”

OCIF provides funding to eligible communities every year to help them renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater projects.

In December 2021, the Ontario government announced an additional $1 billion for critical infrastructure projects that support economic growth and job creation in small, rural and northern communities, bringing the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion dollars over five years.

Quick Facts

• OCIF supports local infrastructure projects by providing stable and predictable funding for communities with populations under 100,000, along with all rural and northern communities.
• Funding allocations are based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities.
• In 2022, the government provided $400 million in funding through OCIF, an increase of $200 million from the previous year. Communities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.

Additional Resources

• Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund Recipients
• Ontario Builds map

Source