North Bay Mayor Al McDonald says the city will apply for infrastructure funding announced by the federal and provincial governments.
Under the 10-year, $30-billion program, each level of government will pay one third each to advance infrastructure projects.
The program is broken into four phases and cities and towns have about two months to get their requests in for the first round of the funding.
McDonald says city hall staff are going over the various capital projects the city has on the go over the next while to see which ones to bring to council’s attention for the first phase.
That first phase deals with road, bridge, air and marine infrastructure.
McDonald says the city has some projects expected to start next year as well as 2021 and 2022.
However, staff could move some of that work forward if the project or projects qualify under the joint government program.
“So we may have to reprioritize (some) projects and move some up that fit the program schedule as opposed to those that don’t fit the criteria,” said the Mayor.
McDonald says the types of projects the city will advance fits with the local mandate which is to grow the community.
“So we’re looking at projects that will grow the city and increase the population,” McDonald said.
“Those are usually significant infrastructure projects that everyone can see and benefit from.”
McDonald says once staff submits the list of projects for the first round, which will be sooner than later considering the eight-week deadline to apply, it’s up to council to accept the report and send it off to the province for funding approval.
