Township of Black River-Matheson Residents Benefit from Local Bridge Improvements

For immediate release — April 25, 2005

Governments partner to make infrastructure investment

MATHESON — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Township of Black River-Matheson today announced funding to rehabilitate four bridges.

The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $693,000 in the project. The Township of Black River-Matheson will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $2,079,000. The Government of Canada's contribution is contingent on the successful completion of an environmental assessment of the proposed project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

This investment, made under the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), will provide safer bridges and improved quality of life for local residents. The Township of Black River-Matheson will rehabilitate bridges #9 (Hooker Creek), #8 (Watabeag), #30 (Wavell Road South), and will replace bridge #22 (Lava Mountain).

"This project will ensure that the residents of Black River-Matheson have safer, more reliable infrastructure," said Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) and Minister responsible for COMRIF. "By working with our provincial and municipal counterparts, we are making real progress on the New Deal for Cities and Communities." The Government of Canada's funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework, added Minister of State Comuzzi.

"Our government is committed to improving essential infrastructure in our northern and rural communities," said David Ramsay, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and MPP for Timiskaming–Cochrane. "Rehabilitating four bridges in the Township of Black River-Matheson is an example of how we are improving local safety and providing a high quality of life for all Ontarians."

"These improvements to our bridges are important to our community and will make a difference for the people of Black River-Matheson," said Gilbert Hebert, Mayor of the Township of Black River-Matheson.

Under COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to improve public infrastructure in small urban and rural communities. The objectives of this initiative are to enhance and renew Ontario's aging public infrastructure, improve the quality of the environment, protect the health and safety of citizens, support long-term economic growth and build strong, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need.

COMRIF is a five-year, $900-million program that focuses on local needs through infrastructure improvements to provide clean, safe drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management processes, safer local roads and bridges as well as other health and safety priorities. Green infrastructure is COMRIF's top priority with 55 per cent of funding for projects involving water quality, sustainable communities, climate change, and innovation.

COMRIF Intake Two will be launched in the coming weeks through a public announcement and direct contact with eligible municipalities. All Ontario municipalities of less than 250,000 people are eligible to apply to COMRIF to improve their local infrastructure.

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

- 30 -

Contacts:

Gilbert Hebert
Mayor of the Township of Black River-Matheson
705-273-2313

Andrea Kelly
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
416-585-7066

Sam Boonstra
Industry Canada
416-952-0468

Project Reference Number: 12088