Canada and Ontario Launch Intake Three of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund

For immediate release – June 20, 2006

Ontario Residents to Benefit from more Infrastructure Improvements to Local Communities

Toronto — The governments of Canada and Ontario today delivered on their commitment to launch Intake Three of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF).

"On behalf of Canada's new government, and as a proud Ontarian, I am pleased to take part in the launch of the third intake of COMRIF," said Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health and Federal Minister responsible for COMRIF. "This funding reinforces our government's commitment to improving the quality of life throughout Ontario, and to working with our partners to build a stronger foundation for our communities and for our country."

"The McGuinty government is on the side of families in rural Ontario," said Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "Today's announcement shows our government's commitment to strengthening rural communities and renewing public infrastructure."

"COMRIF is an important trilateral partnership. It demonstrates that investment in sustainable municipal infrastructure in our communities is a shared federal, provincial and municipal responsibility," said Roger Anderson, Association of Municipal of Ontario (AMO) President.

Intake Three will help address the infrastructure priorities of municipalities: local bridges and roads, solid waste management, water and wastewater (i.e., sewage). These are the same priorities as the previous two intakes.

As for intakes One and Two, the criteria for project selection are health and safety, public policy priorities and value for money.

Projects must be supportive of federal and provincial policy directions such as investing in regional water and sewage systems, sustainable water and sewage systems (i.e., full-cost recovery), reducing greenhouse gases, economic development and increased waste diversion.

"Canada's new government is committed to investing in municipal and rural infrastructure that supports our communities," said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This program is providing positive results to strengthen small urban and rural communities through safer bridges and roads, dependable water systems, and better waste management processes."

"The McGuinty government is building upon the success of the first two intakes of COMRIF," said David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.  "Municipalities across Ontario will benefit from these rural infrastructure investments for decades to come."

Municipalities of fewer than 250,000 people will be able to apply to Intake Three. Materials, including the application, guidebook and technical schedules are now available at www.comrif.ca. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. EST on September 13, 2006.

Under the five-year, $900-million COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with AMO and local partners to improve the quality of life in small urban and rural communities by supporting sustainable infrastructure. Green infrastructure is COMRIF's top priority, with 55 per cent of funding for projects involving water quality, sustainable communities, climate change and innovation.

For further information on the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.comrif.ca.

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Contact:

Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-957-0200

Chris Flavelle
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky
416-326-3072