by Lucy Hook
Ottawa, the province of Ontario and the city of Toronto will pump over $83m into flood protection and a redevelopment of the Port Lands, it has been revealed.
An announcement, expected later today, will detail $18m in funding for flood-protection measures, along with $32.5m from the federal government and $16.3m from the province and the city to go towards rebuilding the old Essroc quay area,
The Star reports.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, along with Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s infrastructure minister, and Mayor John Tory, are expected to reveal the plans, which are seen as a critical step in the development of the area.
Tory press secretary Amanda Galbraith said the Mayor had been focused on getting the plans in motion since coming to office.
She said: “This means we will finally begin the flood protection work necessary for development of the Port Lands,” which will include affording housing, new jobs and neighbourhoods.
Kate Monfette, a spokesperson for Sohi in Ottawa, told the publication there had been a lack of investment in repairs and making sure water systems were in a good state, and that water and wastewater were some of the main issues coming from local governments.
“This is very good news,” she added.
Officials admitted that the $83m is still a fraction of the estimated $975m cost of flood-proofing more than 700 acres of south-eastern downtown waterfront.
The funding is part of an initial phase from the federal government to provide infrastructure cash for projects that can be started quickly. Toronto’s waterfront could be eligible for more cash in the second phase of funding, reports say.
“It’s really up to local governments to prioritize and decide where they want to put their funds,” Monfette said. “It’s not up to us to say. We can’t commit to funding anything else in phase two at this moment.”
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