Will Bouma
Will Bouma

Canada and Ontario Invest More than $200,000.00 in Active Transportation Infrastructure to Respond to the Impacts of COVID-19

 D’Aubigny Creek Park Trail Realignment Receiving Funds

BRANTFORD — The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $2.1 million to protect the health and well-being of residents in 16 communities across Ontario.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, announced joint support to improve access to active transportation options, including trails, pathways, bike paths and sidewalks in Ontario.

The City of Brantford will receive $201,825.00 – The project will rehabilitate and relocate the D’Aubigny Creek Trail in Brantford. The work will involve creating a new asphalt trail and installing new vegetation, benches, and signs along the trail.

“Outdoor spaces are a key part of local infrastructure, and being outdoors in parks and trails has been critical during the pandemic,” said Cambridge MP Bryan May. “This funding will rehabilitate the D’Aubigny Creek Trail, adding new features like benches and signage, making it easier to stay active and enjoy the trail. Congratulations to Brantford and I can’t wait to walk on the trail and see all the improvements.”

The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80% of eligible costs for projects in provinces, and up to 100% for projects in territories and Indigenous communities. The Province of Ontario will invest 20% of the eligible costs for projects across the province.

“I am happy to see another project being funded jointly with our Federal Government partners to upgrade outdoor amenities that will help the community immensely”, said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma. “I will always advocate for our community and we are grateful for the cooperation from all levels of government”.

“The City of Brantford has a long tradition of providing public recreation, sport and cultural opportunities to residents and visitors in a variety of spaces that encourage healthy lifestyles and make our neighbourhoods inviting and unique” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “The 2018 flood event in Brantford caused extensive damage by destroying trees, vegetation and damaging the city’s renowned trail system. We are truly grateful to our government partners for their significant contribution to help further restore the immensely popular D’Aubigny Creek Trail in Brantford to pre-flood condition.”

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.
  • The Government of Canada has invested over $14.4 billion in more than 3,800 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan.
  • Ontario is investing $10.2 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture and recreation; green, and rural and northern community and other priority infrastructure.
  • Through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects.
  • To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program now includes a COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
  • The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream funding stream guarantees a minimum of $100,000 to each of the province’s 444 municipalities. Additional funding has been allocated to municipalities based on a variety of factors, including the value of infrastructure and median household income in each municipality.
  • Across Canada, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Government of Canada has contributed $9.7 billion to 3,500 infrastructure projects.
  • Across the province and over the next 10 years, Ontario is investing approximately $320 million and Canada is investing approximately $407 million under the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This stream supports the construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing facilities that improve community infrastructure (community centres, libraries), recreational venues (arenas, recreational spaces) and cultural spaces (theatres, museums).

-30-

For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org