Backgrounder – Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) are working in partnership to improve and renew public infrastructure across the province through the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF).

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing up to $298 million to COMRIF. With municipal investments, this program is expected to stimulate up to $900 million in capital investments over the next five years. COMRIF targets the infrastructure needs of small urban and rural communities with a population of less than 250,000 people.

Objective and Priorities

The objective of COMRIF is to ensure citizens in Ontario's small urban and rural municipalities enjoy a quality of life that's second to none, through sustainable infrastructure investments which:

• 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
• build strong, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need.

COMRIF focuses on local needs through infrastructure improvements to provide cleaner 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.

Role of AMO

AMO has been active in the design of COMRIF to ensure the program meets local priorities and needs. AMO will continue to provide the municipal perspective in the overall management and evaluation of the program, and will disseminate COMRIF information to its membership.

Program Eligibility and Application Information

Eligible applicants to COMRIF are municipalities with a population of less than 250,000, including Local Services Boards, Local Roads Boards, and non-profit organizations in these communities.

To support long-term planning by municipalities, there will be three intakes of applications: November 15, 2004 (application deadline for this first intake is January 10, 2005), Spring 2005 and Spring 2006. All projects will have to be completed by March 31, 2009. Eligible municipalities can submit one application per intake.

Applicants will be required to provide a comprehensive business case.

Program Delivery

Canada and Ontario have created a joint federal-provincial secretariat to review and evaluate applications, and provide a single-window access point for municipal partners. Industry Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be responsible for the day-to-day COMRIF delivery on behalf of the Governments of Canada and Ontario.

Operating Principles

COMRIF takes into consideration the lessons learned from previous federal-provincial partnerships and builds on their successes. For example, representatives from municipal governments have formally joined this partnership and a streamlined joint Canada-Ontario application process has been designed.

Investments will be based on a competitive, merit-based process. Only the best projects will be selected within the categories of drinking water, sewage treatment, waste management and local roads and bridges. Consideration will also be given to other municipal infrastructure projects.

On the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 445 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system. For more information on AMO, visit www.amo.on.ca.

For More Information

For more information on COMRIF, visit www.comrif.ca or call 1-866-306-7827.