Four local school boards are getting support through a joint investment from the federal and provincial governments.
The $656.5 million joint investment through both levels of government will go toward 9,800 projects at 3,900 schools in Ontario.
MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Steve Clark says $27.6 million will support updates and upgrades at schools in all four boards.
“The boards can use these dollars to retrofit their facilities, and to update and upgrade them,” Clark said. “Things like HVAC renovations to improve air quality, construction to reconfigure spaces so that physical distancing can take place.
Of the $27.6 million, Upper Canada District School Board receives $10,280,215, the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario receives $4,361,820, Conseil scolaire de district catholique du Centre-Est de l’Ontario receives $8,924,000, and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario recieves $4,035,000.
The federal government is providing the bulk of the funding with $525.2 million being contributed, while the province is investing $131.3 million.
Clark says investing to upgrade schools to make them safer will not only benefit students during COVID-19, but will remain beneficial after the pandemic.
“Improvement to air quality and to the building is really money that needs to be spent during the pandemic,” Clark said. “So, I’m glad our government and the Federal government have partnered to ensure school boards have dollars where they can keep students and staff safe.”
Clark notes these types of infrastructure investments will also be key to spurring economic growth and recovery.
The funding is being provided through the COVID-19 Reliance Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.