North Bay getting $400K for infrastructure projects

Northern municipalities are receiving provincial cash over the next handful of years. 

North Bay's share of the new Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) fund for 2021-22 is $400,000.

The infrastructure project funding stream shares the benefits of mining and forestry with municipalities and complements other funding, according to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry announcement. Over the next five years, $15 million will be distributed annually.

"Northern communities face unique realities, as do the industries and sectors that drive our northern economy. Programs such as NORDS are central to our vision for building strong northern communities, supporting economic development, and creating optimum conditions for businesses to thrive, grow, and create good jobs," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, in the news release.

"This funding is very welcome. It will help communities address their impacted road networks, said FONOM President Danny Whalen, noting FONOM was grateful to be involved at the onset of this new funding opportunity. “We were pleased to work with ministry staff and provide input in the development of this new funding stream.”

FONOM and many of its member municipalities have lobbied successive governments for this type of funding arrangement. The extraction of resources from Northern Ontario drives a large part of the economic engine for the province and communities throughout the North. There are, however, impacts on municipal infrastructure when resources are moved through a community.

All 144 Northern Ontario municipalities are eligible for the funding and the allocations are determined using household counts in each municipality. 

The large Northern Ontario municipalities — North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins — are receiving the same amount of cash. 

Other area municipalities:

Funding for the first year will be distributed to municipalities by March 31, 2022. The government encourages municipalities to submit projects for funding on Dec. 7, 2021, when the program opens.The full breakdown of funding by the municipality is available here.