Local hockey rinks, swimming pools and other recreational community sites throughout Ontario will be eligible to receive funding for upgrades and repairs thanks to the new Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation program (Ontario REC). 

Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and George Smitherman, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, announced today that the programs in Ontario are open for business.

“Investing in recreation facilities ensures that families and future generations will continue to come together and enjoy local playing fields, arenas and pools for decades to come,” said Minister Clement. “It will also help create local construction jobs and encourage economic activity right away.”

“Recreational infrastructure is a key building block for better, stronger communities,” said Minister Smitherman. “Not only are we helping to stimulate the economy by creating local jobs, we’re also building happier, healthier and stronger communities across Ontario.”

Municipalities, First Nations governments, counties, community organizations and other not-for-profit entities that have eligible projects that can be completed before March 31, 2011, are invited to submit their applications. 

In addition to $33 billion the Government of Canada has already committed to infrastructure, Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides almost $12 billion in new stimulus funding over the next two years. This includes $500 million for the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program to support upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities across Canada. The allocation for Ontario for this construction season is $68 million. Funding over the next two years will be allocated based on applications submitted from Ontario communities. Ontario’s 2009 provincial budget – Confronting the Challenge:  Building Our Economic Future – provided $32.5 billon in infrastructure investments over the next two years, including $195 million for recreation infrastructure projects.

The governments of Canada and Ontario can each fund up to one third of a project’s total eligible cost up to a maximum of $1 million each per project, with recipients providing the remaining balance.  

To maximize the number of recipients able to take advantage of the 2009 construction season, projects submitted before 5:00 p.m. EST on May 29, 2009, will be reviewed immediately with approved projects to be announced in June 2009. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness

Projects that come in after May 29, 2009, will be assessed and those approved will be announced in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis.

For details on project eligibility and details on how to submit an application, please refer to the program backgrounders and website at www.rinc-on.ca.

Get more information about these two programs.

Learn how the Government of Canada is investing in infrastructure.

Learn how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province.