76 Communities To Benefit From Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance
Program
TORONTO, Jan. 7 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government announced today it is
investing in 76 communities that have met eligibility requirements for the
$8 million Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program (OSWAP) as part of the
government's ongoing commitment to support small communities.
"Since 2003, this government has made ongoing investments in water and
wastewater systems," said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure
Renewal. "This program is one of many initiatives to assist small communities,
particularly those in northern and rural Ontario, who face unique challenges
with the financial sustainability and affordability of their drinking water
systems."
OSWAP will provide a total of $8 million in grants over the next five
years to help manage drinking water system operating costs for municipalities
and local services boards (LSBs) with public drinking water systems serving
1,000 or fewer residents.
"Investing in the management and administration of Ontario's drinking
water resources is an important initiative for our government," said Leona
Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "Today's
announcement shows the government's commitment to ensuring small communities
have the necessary resources to manage their drinking water systems."
OSWAP is the first part of a new $40 million five-year funding program
announced by the province on August 16, 2007. The province is developing
criteria for the second portion of the $40 million program, which will provide
further assistance to municipalities and LSBs serving small populations.
Expressions of interest for OSWAP were accepted between August 31, 2007
and October 31, 2007. Funds are expected to be issued in early 2008 following
the completion of contribution agreements with eligible communities.
In addition to OSWAP, the McGuinty government has invested in several
initiatives to help protect Ontario's public drinking water systems. They
include:- a joint investment with the federal government of almost $380 million
through the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund
(COMRIF) to help 60 small and rural municipalities with water and
wastewater projects;
- provision of $56 million to 53 municipalities, through the Rural
Infrastructure Investment Initiative (RIII), which can be used for
water and wastewater;
- a commitment to provide up to $1.2 billion in affordable, longer-term
financing for water and wastewater projects since 2003 through
Infrastructure Ontario's OSIFA loan program; and
- in 2007-08, will provide an additional $300 million under the
Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII) to support
municipal infrastructure priorities. Water system infrastructure will
be eligible.
Criteria are currently being developed for the second portion of the
$40 million program, which will provide further assistance to municipalities
and LSBs serving small populations.
Visit www.pir.gov.on.ca/english/infrastructure/oswap.htm for more
information.
Disponible en français
www.ontario.ca/pir
Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program (OSWAP)
Eligible Communities
Township of Adelaide Metcalfe Municipality of Markstay-Warren
Township of Amaranth Township of Matachewan
Township of Armstrong Township of Mattice - Val Côté
Local Services Board of Armstrong Municipality of McDougall
Township of Ashfield-Colborne- Township of McGarry
Wawanosh
Township of Assiginack Village of Merrickville-Wolford
Township of Billings Township of Montague
Township of Brooke-Alvinston Township of Moonbeam
Town of Bruce Mines Local Services Board of Moose
Factory
Village of Burk's Falls Municipality of Morris-Turnberry/
Township of Central Manitoulin Belgrave Water Services Committee
Township of Chapple Township of Mulmur
Municipality of Charlton and Dack Township of Nairn and Hyman
Township of Chatsworth Village of Newbury
Township of Coleman Township of The North Shore
Township of Dawn-Euphemia Municipality of Northern Bruce
Peninsula
Township of Dubreuilville Village of Oil Springs
Township of Ear Falls Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
Township of East Garafraxa Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
Township of Elizabethtown Kitley Local Services Board of Peace Tree
Township of Emo Township of Pelee
Township of Fauquier-Strickland Township of Perth South
Local Services Board of Foleyet Township of Pickle Lake
Township of Galway-Cavendish and Municipality of Powassan
Harvey
Local Services Board of Gogama Town of Rainy River
Town of Gore Bay Township of Red Rock
Municipality of Highlands East Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers
Village of Hilton Beach Township of Schreiber
Township of James Township of South Frontenac
Township of Johnson Village of South River
Township of Killaloe, Hagatry and Town of Spanish
Richards
Municipality of Killarney Township of St. Joseph
Township of Larder Lake Township of Tehkummah
Town of Latchford Municipality of Temagami
Township of Leeds and the Thousand Local Services Board of Thorne
Islands
Local Services Board of Rossport Township of Opasatika
Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Municipality of Val Rita-Harty
Aberdeen
Municipality of Machin Village of Westport
Township of White River
For further information: Amy Tang, Minister's Office, Public
Infrastructure Renewal, (416) 325-4048; Kelly Synnott, Minister's Office,
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, (416) 326-6439
