Federal funding through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP) for projects across this riding was announced last week.
On Jan. 6, Perth-Wellington MPP John Nater announced $422,667 for eight projects in the riding, including $40,000 to Wellington North for the rehabilitation of Kinsmen Ball Park.
The local grant is expected to cover 33 per cent of the cost of renovating fences, benching and bleachers at the ball park. The reminder of the funding announced by Nater was for projects in Perth County communities.
“It is great to see municipalities and community groups in Perth-Wellington receive much-needed support funding through this vital program,” said Nater upon receiving the News from the office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
“These funds will allow our rural communities to make necessary upgrades, improve accessibility and allow our communities to grow and thrive.”
Nater notes the Canada 150 CIP was first announced in the 2015 federal budget by the previous Conservative government and stated he was “pleased” the current Liberal government “reversed their previous opposition to the Canada 150 Fund and chose to continue this valuable investment in community infrastructure.”
However, the Conservative MP added, “in the past few months I have been concerned with the implementation of the program.”
He added, “I am disappointed it took the minister’s office six months to provide a response to applicants. Many municipalities and community groups required this information weeks ago for their budget deliberations.”
When the program was first introduced, Liberal MPs referred to the program as a “slush fund,” noting the short deadline imposed for applications could allow for some announcements to be made quickly for possible electoral motivations.
In October of 2015, a Toronto Star story stated ridings won by the Conservatives (54 per cent of the total) in 2011 received 68.6 per cent of the roughly $106 million paid out through the program between June 2015 and June 2016.
