The health and safety of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Ontario. Communities across Canada are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and need immediate assistance to ensure their public infrastructure is safe and reliable.
That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times.
Today, MP Francis Drouin, Member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, MPP Amanda Simard, and School Board in our regions announced joint funding for 66 projects in Eastern Ontario to protect students and staff from COVID-19.
The Government of Canada is investing $5,005,622 towards these projects through the COVID-19 Resilience stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
On April 14, 2021, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure for Ontario, and the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education for Ontario, announced $656.5 million in joint funding through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream to support over 9,800 projects at almost 3,900 schools and co-located childcare facilities across 74 school boards in Ontario.
The majority of funding will support ventilation projects that improve air quality in classrooms across the province. Projects include HVAC renovations to improve air quality, installing water bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water, investing in network and broadband infrastructure to support remote learning, and space reconfigurations such as new walls and doors to enhance physical distancing.
The COVID-19 stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows Government of Canada to invest up to 80% in projects that support provinces and up to 100% in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.
Quotes
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the wellbeing of students, parents and teachers. As we continue to battle this crisis, ensuring a safe learning environment for our kids is critical. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing 80 cents on every dollar for a total of over $500 million to make schools across Ontario safer for students and teachers. These projects will improve air quality, install more hand washing stations and support better physical distancing. They are part of the federal government's support to help Canadians get through the pandemic safely, create good jobs across the province, and build stronger, more resilient communities.”
“As we all fight the pandemic together, it is essential for the federal government to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for school staff and students in our region. School boards in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell are doing a great job and the federal government is and will always be there to help them fight COVID in our schools”
“I am pleased to see that the federal government is taking action to ensure that students, teachers and all school staff in Eastern Ontario benefit from safe learning and work environments. Our students are our future and school staff play a vital role in ensuring their well-being and success. They deserve to be protected in a pandemic and at all times”
"The past year has shown us more than ever the importance of having modern and safe infrastructure that will benefit our students, staff and the community as a whole. The Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) is pleased with this announcement that will modernize our school infrastructure in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell County and across the 40,000 km2 served by the CEPEO."
“Any day we receive funding news of this nature is a good day for Upper Canada. We want to truly thank our provincial and federal partners for their investments in our schools.”
