Infrastructure Stimulus Fund Questions and Answers
Q1: Can I bundle several small projects together that are of a similar nature, and fill out one application? E.g., there are several municipal roads in poor state of repair and our municipality would like to propose we rehabilitate and resurface a number of them.
Q2: My municipality has a water distribution and sewer main project, which also includes the replacement of the road above as part of the overall project. All components will be tendered as one project. Would this be considered as one project under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
Q3: Is municipal housing eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
Q4: Are long-term care and health care facilities eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
Q5: Are athletic facilities and recreational facilities housed within municipal buildings eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
Q6: How do not-for profit and private sector proponents
apply to the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund in Ontario?
Q7: A not-for-profit organization is responsible for operating a municipal asset. Can they apply for funding for a “local government asset” under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund if they are willing to fund the municipal share?
Q8: Is the purchasing or leasing of equipment eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
Q9: Can a local government back-end load its funding share?
Q10: My municipal building houses many community services that are delivered by not-for profit groups. Can I apply for improvements to the building that will benefit these groups?
Q11: Where can I find a list of approved ISF projects?
A1: One application is required per project. This is to facilitate a rapid review in terms of environmental assessment requirements, and make sure that projects that are selected for funding can proceed quickly. Each project has a unique location and requirements that must be assessed. A single road may require re-surfacing in a number of different areas - - provided the environmental information remains the same and the projects are along the same, single road, these may be construed as a single project.
A2: Yes, this would be considered as one project.
Q3: Is municipal housing eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
A3: No. Municipally owned housing such as social housing is not eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The 2009 federal Budget provided $1 billion to address renovations and retrofits of social housing. This funding is being administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Q4: Are long-term care and health care facilities eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
A4: No. Long-term care and health care facilities are not eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
A5: Rehabilitation or construction work related to athletic or recreational facilities, such as indoor swimming pools or gymnasia, are only eligible where these are part of a larger construction or rehabilitation project for a multi-purpose municipal building such as a community centre.
The 2009 federal Budget announced $500 million for Recreational Infrastructure Canada which targets community recreational facilities such as hockey arenas, tennis and basketball courts, and swimming pools. Funding requests for these types of infrastructure should be directed to the Recreational Infrastructure Fund which is being administered by Industry Canada in Ontario.
A6: The current call for proposals under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is only for municipal governments.
A7: Only local and regional governments may apply for funding for municipal assets. However, local and regional governments can partner with not-for-profit organizations to come up with their one-third funding share.
Q8: Is the purchasing or leasing of equipment eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund?
A8: No. As is the case with other federal infrastructure programs, eligible costs under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund are for the construction or rehabilitation of fixed capital assets.
Q9: Can a local government back-end load its funding share?
A9: No, the provincial and federal governments will pay only two-thirds of invoices, as submitted, for work completed.
Municipalities can consider using the Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Loan Program to assist them with any financial requirements.
A10: Yes, as long as the building is owned by the municipality.
Q11: Where can I find a list of approved ISF projects?
A list of successful applicants has been posted to the ISF website. To view the list of successful ISF applicants, please click here. If you were successful in your application and have further questions about next steps and the contribution agreement, please contact the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Secretariat at 1-866-306-7827, or via e-mail at BCF.CC@ontario.ca, or by fax at 519-826-4336. For inquiries if your project was not approved please contact Infrastructure Canada at info@buildingcanada.gc.ca or by telephone at 613-948-1148.