Ontario Government Invests Over $5 Million In Rural Townships For Infrastructure

The Ontario Government has given over $5 million to five townships in the Peterborough-Kawartha area for infrastructure announced at the Millennium Gardens in Douro-Dummer on Wednesday.

(left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor; Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor; Jim Martin, Havelock Belmont Methuen mayor and Warden J. Murray Jones under the gazebo at Millennium Gardens. Smith says it takes $1.2 million to pave one kilometre of a road. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The mons is part of the 2022 funding allocations under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.

“Our local municipalities provide the on-the-ground services we rely on; roads, bridges, wastewater infrastructure, maintenance and affordable housing,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This stable source of funding, increased again this year, provides our local rural communities the opportunity to finance critical infrastructure and keep property taxes under control.”

“This OMPF funding is nothing but good news for the townships in Peterborough County. It is very much appreciated and is critical for the everyday things we need to accomplish. It is truly a partnership,” said Warden J. Murray Jones, Douro-Dummer mayor.

"We are pleased that the Province is continuing with this important program to assist Municipalities. The funding for Selwyn of $1,068,400 will assist our community to move forward on our capital programs and to assist with targeted operational budgets,” said Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor.

Each township has yet to fully discuss where the money will be going except for Trent Lakes where the funds will be used to redo their public works buildings said Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor.

“This is going to be a long way toward taking the pressure off that and any of this money helps the municipalities move forward without borrowing money,” she said.

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