Dundalk, Ontario, July 23, 2010 – Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound; the Honourable Carol Mitchell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Don Lewis, Mayor of the Township of Southgate, today celebrated the grand opening of the new Southgate Community Services Building in Dundalk.
The multi-purpose facility houses the community’s new library, which is fully accessible and energy efficient. It is also home to the OPP Extended Services Office, which was moved from the Olde Town Hall to create additional space for cultural activities.
“Our government is pleased to have contributed to the building upgrades, which will offer additional resources, encourage learning, and foster a stronger sense of community in Southgate,” said MP Miller. “Through investments like this one Canada’s Economic Action Plan is improving municipal infrastructure, simultaneously creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity.”
“Ontario is pleased to support infrastructure projects like this one, which strengthen rural communities and create jobs,” said Carol Mitchell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Southgate families will continue to enjoy access to vital services close to home.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the federal and provincial governments to enhance the services being offered to our community," said Mayor Don Lewis. "The benefits they will bring to the daily lives of local residents will be greatly appreciated well into the future."
The governments of Canada and Ontario have each committed up to $340,000 to the project. The Township of Southgate will contribute the remaining balance of the total eligible project cost of $1,020,000. To make up its share, the Township is contributing $170,000 and is using $170,000 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation toward the project. Under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Township is allowed to use federal Gas Tax funding to complement its municipal contribution toward the project.
As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan that the Government of Canada introduced in January 2009 to create jobs and boost the economy, the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund was introduced, resulting in close to 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country. From 2010 to 2014, the Township will receive approximately $879,390 in federal Gas Tax funding.
The contribution from the Province of Ontario comes from its 2009 provincial budget that is supporting more than 300,000 jobs and strengthening Ontario's economy.
Since 2007, the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed more than $13 billion in funding to more than 6,400 infrastructure projects across the province.
For additional information:
Constituency office of Larry Miller
519-371-1059
Sarah Petrevan
Office of the Honourable Carol Mitchell
416-326-3861
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
