The buzz word around town and in the media for the last few months has been “stimulus” – economic stimulus by investing in infrastructure. We all know the theory; by spending money on upgrading and adding infrastructure, governments are spurring the economy because they are creating jobs and demand for materials. But what exactly does this mean for our community?

Since the 2009 Budget we have invested over $457.5 million in upgrading our infrastructure and spurring the economy in Ottawa. These investments have been spread across four sectors: post-secondary education, infrastructure, recreation and affordable housing. We also recently accepted proposals from non-profit organizations and will make an important funding announcement about those infrastructure projects shortly.

Here is a breakdown of what these investments mean to our community:

KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

·On May 25, 2009 we announced $158.5 million in joint federal and provincial funding to repair and build new infrastructure on campuses across Ottawa

·These projects include:

§Carleton University: $52.5 million to build two buildings for the Waterfront Project

§University of Ottawa: $80 million to renovate and add a tower to Vanier Hall.

§La Cité collègiale: $26 million to build a new 911 institute.

·We had previously provided Algonquin College with $35 million to build a new Environmental Demonstration Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences. Under KIP, the federal government is also providing $35 million, for a total of $70 million in funding.

INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND

·On June 5, 2009 we announced $250 million in joint federal and provincial funding for infrastructure projects across the city

·Ottawa Centre Projects:

§Ottawa Chinatown Gateway Project - $250,000

§Ottawa Public Library – Sunnyside Branch - $850,000

§Drainage Culverts Prince of Wales - $133,334

§Urban multi-use pathways River Capital - $306,668

§Pedestrian sidewalks Bronson Avenue - $120,000

§Transitway improvement Albert and Slater corridor - $1.1M

§Water and sewer Churchill Avenue, Argyle, Cambridge & Tweedsmuir - $14.3M

·City-Wide Totals:

§Cultural projects - $11.5 million

§Local Road Infrastructure - $127.8 million

§Municipal Buildings - $100,000

§Public Transit - $69.2 million

§Water Infrastructure - $42 million

·Other notable Ottawa projects:

§Centrepointe Theatre Expansion - $8 million

Recreational Infrastructure Canada program (RInC)

·On June 26, 2009 we announced over $24 million in joint federal and provincial funding to improve