Bracebridge, Ontario, November 12, 2011 – Government representatives joined supporters and staff from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA) today to celebrate the completion of a new Muskoka Animal Centre in Bracebridge.
This new facility will allow Ontario SPCA to better accommodate the needs of thousands of homeless animals in Bracebridge, the District Municipality of Muskoka, Haliburton County and Parry Sound. In addition to quadrupling the size of its animal shelter, the new facility will greatly improve the organization's capacity to provide pet adoption services, fulfill its animal control services mandate, and deliver educational programming on animal cruelty issues and wildlife preservation. The new facility also provides a cleaner, safer workspace for the many employees and volunteers who work there. To reduce energy consumption and help lower operating costs, the new building includes geo-thermal heating, high efficiency lighting, and solar tubes to provide natural light.
"Across the province, the Ontario SPCA plays an important role in providing a safe home for animals in need,"
said the Honourable Tony Clement, President of Treasury Board Secretariat and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound–Muskoka. "Our government is proud to invest in key infrastructure projects that create jobs and improve services in our communities."
"Our government is making strategic infrastructure investments to build stronger communities, support local economies and create jobs for Ontario families,"
said the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. "We are pleased to be supporting the Ontario SPCA Muskoka Animal Centre so they are able to continue to provide high-quality services to the community for many years to come."
"This really has been a community effort. We have had great support from volunteers, corporations and animal lovers to help make this dream a reality,"
said Kate MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario SPCA. "We can't thank you all enough for the support you have given us; together we are able to provide more care for animals in Muskoka and surrounding communities."
The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing one-third of total eligible project costs, to a maximum of $596,666 each. The Ontario SPCA contributed the balance of the total eligible project cost of $1,790,000.
Federal support for this project comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which has resulted in over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
This project supports Building Together, Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, the Government of Ontario has created and supported 600,000 jobs and invested $62 billion in infrastructure. Through Building Together, Ontario will continue to make significant investments in public infrastructure, starting with an investment of more than $35 billion over the next three years.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit infrastructure.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
To download a short broadcast-quality video highlighting a few of the many successful infrastructure projects across Canada, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/video/video-eng.html.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
416-327-7226
Alison Cross
Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications for the Ontario SPCA
905-853-2108
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
