Latest news with #InvestinginCanadaInfrastructureProgram
Cision Canada
18 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Canada and Ontario invest in public transit infrastructure for North Bay residents Français
NORTH BAY, ON, Aug. 6, 2025 /CNW/ - North Bay is gearing up for more sustainable and convenient transit thanks to a combined investment of over $20.6 million from the federal and provincial governments and the City of North Bay. Announced today by MP Pauline Rochefort, MPP Vic Fedeli, and Mayor Peter Chirico, this funding will make transit safer and easier while cutting down on carbon emissions. The investment will replace eight conventional buses with hybrid buses in the North Bay Transit fleet and support new sidewalks and stormwater system upgrades. The city will also use these funds to upgrade a transit terminal and the fare collection system. Investments in public transit help Canadians get where they need to be, create new manufacturing and construction jobs, reduce pollution, and make life more affordable. Quotes "Transit is key to connecting and creating communities while also building them stronger. This new transit funding will make it safer and easier for people in our community to get where they need to go while reducing emissions." Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming "Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing nearly $70 billion to deliver the largest transit expansion in Canadian history. Today's investment will help upgrade and expand transit infrastructure in North Bay, connecting more people in our community to housing and jobs, supporting local businesses and growing North Bay's economy while we work to protect Ontario against economic uncertainty and unjust U.S. tariffs." Vic Fedeli, Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing "This investment will help us support and improve a more sustainable, modern transit system in North Bay. From hybrid buses to upgraded infrastructure, these projects will make transit safer, more accessible, and more convenient for everyone. We're grateful for the continued support through the ICIP program over the years, which has been instrumental in helping us strengthen our city's transit network." Quick Facts Through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada is investing $8,362,099, the Government of Ontario is investing $6,896,755 and the City of North Bay is contributing $5,433,480. Investments in public transit help Canadians get where they need to be, create new manufacturing and construction jobs, reduce pollution, and make life more affordable. In 2021, the government announced significant public transit funding that includes billions in support for zero emission buses, rural transit solutions, active transportation, and support for major projects to accelerate the expansion of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day. The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities. The CPTF supports transit and active transportation investments in three streams: Metro Region Agreements, Baseline Funding, and Targeted Funding. Visit the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website for more information. The Ontario government is investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade to build public transit. Ontario is also providing the City of North Bay with $784,736 in funding through the province's 2024-25 Gas Tax program. The Gas Tax program provides Ontario municipalities with a stable source of dedicated funding that can be used to increase public transit service, purchase new vehicles and improve accessibility to increase transit ridership. Public Transit Infrastructure Stream Housing and Infrastructure Project Map Strengthened Climate Plan 2024-25 Gas Tax Funding by Municipality Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Renée LeBlanc Proctor, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, [email protected]; Media Relations, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Dakota Brasier, Ontario Minister of Transportation's Office, [email protected]; Gord Young, Communication Officer, City of North Bay, 705-474-0400, ext. 2505, [email protected]
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brandon to upgrade water treatment plant
BRANDON — The City of Brandon has awarded the largest single construction contract in its history as council voted to go forward with a $139-million project to improve the quality of its drinking water. The cost will be split between the city, the province and the federal government. Council awarded the contract, worth about $128,000, to NAC Constructors Ltd. for a new membrane building, which will be part of the water treatment facility. Alexia Stangherlin, the city's director of utilities, said in the summer, the city doesn't meet requirements for clean water. The current system has largely been unchanged since the 1940s. 'This city's operating licence — we've been in a state of non-compliance for a few years now, primarily based on disinfection byproduct,' Stangherlin told council. The treatment plant 'just does not remove those constituents in the water to the degree that we need them to.' After the upgrades are completed, the water quality is expected to exceed provincial operating-licence requirements. Work is slated to start this year and be completed in June 2029, Stangherlin said. The city is putting in $29 million for the project through loans, while the province is contributing $46 million and Ottawa's share is $44 million. An additional $19 million will come from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and a debenture taken out by the city, as per a council report. In total, once other work is completed, the membrane project is estimated to cost as much as $139 million. In 2002, the city borrowed about $40 million for work on the entire water treatment facility project, apart from the membrane building. In 2023, council moved to borrow an additional $15 million at a 7.5 per cent interest rate, which was finally approved at the July 7 meeting. The new 'dual membrane system with ultra filtration and nano filtration that will blend with the current water' won't replace the 1940s system but will be in support of much of what is already there, Stangherlin said. She said the City of Portage la Prairie is doing a similar project because it's more economical than a full replacement. Coun. Greg Hildebrand said he's thankful the replacement option was shelved. 'It's good that we're being cost-effective and choosing value as we move through,' Hildebrand said. Coun. Shaun Cameron said the project is necessary to provide safe drinking water for residents. 'It's a big sticker shock… but I think there's really no more important work we can do than what we're doing here.' Mayor Jeff Fawcett said it's a watershed project. 'We're making those kind of investments so that we do have long-term drinking water standards that are exceeded now, and so that we should be able to go well into the future with this,' Fawcett said. — Brandon Sun
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Regina city council approves $40M increase for indoor aquatic centre
An additional $40 million to build Regina's new Indoor Aquatic Facility (IAF) has been greenlit by mayor and council. The IAF is meant to replace the Lawson Aquatic Centre and is now projected to cost $285.1 million, states a report presented at a city council meeting Wednesday. Originally, the IAF was set to cost $160.7 million. Citing inflation, administration announced that the budget had increased to $245.1 million in October 2024. The city has attributed the spike in cost to 'global supply chain disruptions' as well as 'market volatility.' A refrain heard from the majority of council Wednesday was the longer the city waits, the more the project will cost. 'Early fall is when we're putting a shovel in the ground,' said Mayor Chad Bachynski after the meeting. Council voted 9-2 in favour of the increase. Ward 2 Coun. George Tsiklis and Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo voted against. 'I want it all' A number of residents presented their stance on the increase during the meeting, from concerns over possibly deferring the construction of pickleball courts and dog parks, to worries over pool maintenance. Ward 4 Coun. Mark Burton summarized the tension with a reference to a Queen song. 'I want it all and I want it now' Burton quoted, relating it to the variety of needs and wants of community members. Kelly Miller said the issue of replacing the Lawson has been going on for a decade and a half. 'We shouldn't be back at this again, it should be done,' she argued. A campaign promise by former mayor Sandra Masters who served from 2020 to 2024, Miller said cost to build the facility 'should have been half of this.' Now, administration will finance another $10 million through city debt and pull $30 million from the five-year recreation capital plan to cover the increased budget. Doing so, the report advises, could mean shelving several other projects until at least 2030. That includes: two new dog parks ($1.2 million) and eight new pickleball courts ($1.4 million), turf replacement on city-owned fields ($5.6 million) and rebuild plans for other outdoor pools ($21.7 million). The additional city debt would translate to an additional $6.84 per year in taxes for the average Regina taxpayer. With federal support, the city will be on the hook for $156 million in debt and $49.9 million in annual capital funding. The federal government and the province is set to provide $43.2 million and $36 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Pickleball passion Randy Dove, with Pickleball Regina Inc., was opposed to the idea of deferring the pickleball courts, touting the sports growing prominence in Regina and around the world. 'We need a minimum of 20 high quality courts,' Dove argued. Ward 3 Coun. David Froh said there were many strains on other recreation needs and that there will be other opportunities for pickleball to receive funding. But Dove asked council to 'consider the value of pickleball as a lifelong sport that's growing in the community' and said he is not asking for one to be prioritized over the other. 'Our club has no issues with the aquatics centre.' Related Regina's planned indoor aquatic centre is another $40M over budget, says new report 'Never going to feel good about that': Regina councillors back $40M IAF budget overrun Councillor questions research Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich again offered skepticism over the geothermal component of the IAF. 'I believe it creates a lot of risk,' he said. City administration said a full feasibility study was done on the prospect of including geothermal within the IAF. It would result in a $4.6-million savings over 50 years compared to natural gas, the city said. Rashovich took issue with those estimates. He challenged councillors to 'do some research' and claimed the city was 'doing an experiment with tax dollars.' He proposed an amendment — similar to one he put forward at a past executive committee meeting — to cancel the geothermal component. Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak cited extensive testing done at the University of Regina since 1979 at the school's geothermal well. 'We do have testing,' she said this aspect of the project creates the possibility to study applications of geothermal heating in the city further. 'I cannot continue to rehash decisions that have already been made,' said Ward 7 Coun. Shobna Radons. Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli asked if it's likely 'that anything remains the same price for 50 years?' Administration said no, to which Mancinelli said geothermal was 'a gift horse' that will not be subject to market elasticity like natural gas. The amendment lost, with Rashovich and Bezo the only two 'yes' votes. Tsiklis unsuccessfully sought to table the motion. — with files from Larissa Kurz alsalloum@ The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Federal and provincial governments invest in remediation of the Montague Mines site Français
MONTAGUE GOLD MINES, NS, July 31, 2025 /CNW/ - The site of a former gold mine that operated approximately 100 years ago will be remediated after an investment of more than $33.4 million from the federal and provincial governments. An environmental site assessment confirmed the soil at Montague Mines, which was mined for gold from 1865 to 1940, is contaminated with mercury and arsenic. The contamination is primarily found in an area of approximately 363 acres where mine tailings were disposed. The goal of the project is to return the land and wetlands to a productive habitat similar to what it was before mining activities. The cleanup will include excavating contaminated soils to a depth of two metres and placing the soil in impermeable containment cells that will be constructed on site. The estimated volume of material expected to be contained within the cells is 120,000 m3. A treatment system will also be required to collect and treat any leachate from the constructed containment cells. Clean backfill will replace removed soil. A low-permeability cover will be placed on areas of the site with lower levels of contamination to keep precipitation from creating contaminated runoff. These areas will also be covered with clean backfill. Since 1991, provincial legislation in Nova Scotia requires mining companies to provide funds for reclamation — such as cash or bonds — before mining begins to cover full reclamation costs. This ensures sites can be effectively reclaimed even if a company defaults, preventing an abandoned or contaminated site. Quotes "It is crucial that we uphold Canada's world-leading environmental standards by addressing the contamination on the Montague Mines site. This project will promote long-term environmental sustainability on both the site of the former mine, and downstream." Braedon Clark, Member of Parliament for Sackville–Bedford–Preston "The start of remediation at the historic gold mine site in Montague Mines marks a major step forward in protecting both the environment and public health. This work reflects our dedication to responsible environmental stewardship and our commitment to addressing the legacy of past industrial activity. The Honourable Fred Tilley, Nova Scotia Minister of Public Works Quick Facts The federal government is investing $15 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Nova Scotia is investing $18,480,000. This stream helps build greener communities by contributing to climate change preparedness, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting renewable technologies. Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government 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 funding announced today builds on the federal government's work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies. Green Infrastructure Stream Housing and Infrastructure Project Map Strengthened Climate Plan Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Winnipeg Free Press
25-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Transit hydrogen fuelling station expected before end of year
Winnipeg Transit expects to have a new multimillion-dollar hydrogen fuelling station in place before the end of this year. Since the city now has eight fuel-cell battery-electric buses and expects to order another 10, council's public works chairwoman expects the facility will be well-utilized. 'Eventually, they're not going to make diesel buses anymore and we will be dealing with hydrogen and electric, so this is not, by any means, a waste of money. This is going to serve what we have (now) and for the future,' said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West). A city tender seeks a company to build a new hydrogen generation and dispensing station to accommodate up to 20 of the fuel-cell buses. Transit confirmed it has set aside about $9 million for equipment, design and construction management so far. The cost of the current contract will be added to that but won't be known until the tender is awarded. The station would be placed outdoors at Transit's Fort Rouge garage property at 421 Osborne St., as part of the city's zero-emission bus program. A $280-million tri-government Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program agreement announced in 2022 will allow between 90 and 100 green buses to be added overall, with the rest being battery-electric (non-fuel-cell) models. The hydrogen fuelling station was planned before city council voted to return to buying only diesel buses in 2027. However, Lukes said she's 'very optimistic' more senior government funding will become available, so the city can afford to further expand Transit's green fleet. 'Long-term, the goal is to continue with hydrogen and alternative (fuel) sources…. Hopefully, we're going to be receiving federal and provincial support to do our fleet conversion,' she said. Higher prices have always been an obstacle in the city's transition from diesel to zero-emission buses. In February, Transit said a 12-metre diesel bus now costs approximately $900,000, while the city will pay about $1.56 million for each electric bus of the same size and $1.9 million per fuel-cell version. Lukes said she expects a federal transit fund promised in March could help, which is expected to provide Winnipeg $11.5 million annually for transit planning and infrastructure. The federal Liberals said that fund would last 10 years, starting in 2026. The city unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell battery-electric bus in February and now has eight of the vehicles, along with six of eight battery-electric vehicles it's ordered so far. It expects to order 10 more fuel-cell models under ICIP, Transit confirmed Friday. In an email, Transit spokesman Brandon Logan said the fuelling station is also supported by the tri-government agreement and current buses will make good use of it. 'Fuel-cell battery-electric buses have a design life of 18 years, so the station is planned to be in service for at least 18 years. If fewer than 20 buses are ultimately purchased, there would be capacity to support additional vehicles. The station can support fuelling other hydrogen vehicles, as (it) is equipped with a standard nozzle and wireless communication,' wrote Logan. He said the hydrogen production could also be 'scaled up or down' based on demand. The city's current hydrogen buses arrived with a fuel supply, Logan noted. Transit did not grant an interview request Friday. The city expects the fuelling station to be completed by Nov. 30. City staff estimate each green bus replacement of a diesel vehicle would remove about 62 tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions per year. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
