Tag Archives: OCIF3

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Update on OCIF3 application

On Thursday, CAO Snyder and I had a teleconference with staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI).  OMAFRA has the responsibility of assessing the OCIF3 applications and deciding which are successful.   The meeting was frustrating to say the least.  We were told that our situation is not “critical enough” when weighed against the merits of all of the projects and our financial ability to pay.  A new financial consideration this year is just that … the project cost per household … and ours wasn’t enough to bump the project up into the successful category. Seriously!!!!  They said it was a very well written and concise application that thoroughly explained the project and our situation in the Village.  However, at the end of the conversation with these Ministry staff, there was still no OCIF money or any other support for Westport from the provincial government.  They suggested we try again in 2018, however were quick to say that there was no guarantee that we would be successful.

I was clear that we don’t have “next year” for getting a grant for this project.  Council has decided that it is necessary, for a variety of reasons, to build the new waste water treatment system in 2017.

The Minister of Infrastructure’s office called on Thursday and CAO Snyder and I are meeting with him in Toronto in mid-April.  MPP Steve Clark, who has continued to work on our behalf, will be attending the meeting with us.  It is my hope that, being a former municipal politician, the Minister will see things less through a bureaucratic lens and more from your perspective – the real people who live and work in Westport.

As always, if you have any questions, please call me or any of the members of Council.

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We asked Minister Leal for a meeting, instead we got a form letter…..

When we learned that Westport had been turned down for OCIF3, CAO Paul Snyder wrote to the 4 Ministers involved with municipal and infrastructure mandates and asked for meetings.  To date, Minister Mauro has indicated that his schedule is too busy and here is the letter from Minister Leal, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.  This is the Ministry that makes the decisions on how the OCIF3 grants are awarded  It is difficult to understand the blatant refusal of an elected official to meet and instead offer a form letter that simply states, in the politically correct way, no grant for Westport.

I also followed up with the Premier’s office on Friday in the attempt to book a meeting with her.  I have learned from a very competent Scheduling Assistant in the Premier’s office that my request will be considered on Monday.  I will keep you informed on her decision.

Many thanks to our MPP Steve Clarke, who continues to work on our behalf with the individual Ministers.  

 

 

MAR 1 6 2017

Minlstere de I’Agriculture, de l’Alimentatlon et des Affaires rurales

Bureau du ministre

77, rue Grenville, 11° etage Toronto (Ontario) M7A 183 Tel. : 416 326-3074

Telec. :416 326-3083

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Ontario

Mr. Paul Snider CAO/Clerk

Village of Westport psnider@villageofwestport.ca

Dear Mr. Snider:

Thank you for your letter regarding your submission to the 2016 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) Top-Up Application Component. Iam pleased to respond.

Investing in key infrastructure is part of our government’s pl n to help create jobs, grow our economy and connect communities.

I appreciate the importance of this project to your community. This year’s intake was very competitive. The total funding requested exceeded the funding that was .available and, as a result, not all applications could be funded.

We heard from small, rural and northern communities about the importance of stable and predictable investments in local infrastructure. That is why our government is tripling its investments through OCIF – ramping·up from $100 million in 2016 to $300 million a year by 2019. Over the next three years·OCIF will invest over $670 million to help. municipalities across Ontario improve local infrastructure.

I understand that, to date, the village has received $50,000 in OCIF formula-based funding ·to use toward critical infrastructure projects. I understand that your municipality will receive an additional $150,000 in formula-based funding between 2017 and 2019. This funding can be used toward this project or other eligible projects tht have been identified as a priority in your municipality’s asset management plan.

The 2017 intake of the OCIF Top-Up Application Component will launch this spring, which will provide your municipality with another opportunity to apply for infrastructure funding.

Approximately $100 million will be available for the 2017 intake, which is almost double the size of the previous intake, providing significantly more support for critical infrastructure projects across Ontario.

I would encourage you to contact your Project Analyst, Stephen Hamblin.  He can answer any additional questions you may have about the assessment process and offer some advice that may be helpful for future submissions.

Our government is building Ontario up with a clear, predictable and long-term commitment to improve infrastructure that will help support communities.

 Again, thank you for writing. Sincerely,

Jeff Leal

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Minister  Responsible  for  Small Business

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Letter to Premier Wynne-March 12, 2017

We have not had any responses to our requests for meetings from four Ministers to discuss our OCIF3 grant being denied.  I have sent the below correspondence to the Premier today.

 

March 12, 2017

Kathleen Wynne, Premier 

Legislative Building 

Queen’s Park 

Toronto ON M7A 1A1

This is a formal invitation to visit the the Village of Westport in eastern Ontario.  And you are correct – it has been a Progressive Conservative riding for years.   Further, I suspect it will remain a PC riding in 2018.  I thought we should get that out of the way at the beginning of my letter.  I hope it makes no difference to you, the Premier of ALL Ontarians.

The Corporation of the Village of Westport, located on the Upper Rideau Lake, has a population of 600 people.  It is the smallest municipality in Ontario with both water and waste water systems.   The waste water system is wholly inadequate to service the needs of the community due to climate change and aging infrastructure.  Westport was turned down for an OCIF 2 grant and now for OCIF 3 as well.  It is difficult to understand how this critical work to bring the Village into compliance with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is not a priority with your government.  The Environmental Assessment has been completed and approved by MOECC.  The build for the “green”, “low energy” waste water treatment system has been approved by MOECC.  We are shovel ready.  Moving forward, we need $2.3 million dollars in 2017 to replace the old system.  To my municipality – it is an incredible burden.  To your government – it is an insignificant amount of the OCIF3 grants.

Before you say that “this isn’t my department”, Premier, we have written to your Ministers and requested meetings – Municipal Affairs and Housing, OMAFRA, Environment and Infrastructure.  Only one has replied to our correspondence.  Minister Mauro’s schedule was “too busy” to meet with me. 

Before you say “the applications were assessed by experts and others were found to be more in need”, Premier, think about the environmental impact of a waste water system imploding versus a new road or arena.  

The Village needs the help of the provincial government to complete a project of this magnitude.  To think that the Village’s small tax base can complete it on its own is unreasonable.  Without being able to process effluent, thousands of litres has been hauled to a neighbouring community by truck over the past couple of years to a total cost of $800,000.  The situation poses an environmental threat to the Rideau Canal and a public safety and economic threat to the Village and surrounding community.

Premier, what are you and your government going to do to help the Village of Westport?  I repeat my invitation to you and your Ministers to come to Westport and see with your own eyes the challenges that we are facing.  I am certain it will soften your heart.

Yours truly,

Robin Jones

Mayor

Village of Westport

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Premier Wynne’s contact information

Since last Wednesday, many have inquired about who they should send their letters to complaining about Westport’s unsuccessful OCIF 3 grant application – money needed to help pay for the new waste water treatment plant.

My suggestion is to send your letters right to the Premier.  She is on Facebook, Twitter and I am attaching the link for you to send her an email.   https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx

If you are not sure what to say, you could consider including some of these points.

Kathleen Wynne, Premier 

Legislative Building 

Queen’s Park 

Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Westport is a Village in eastern Ontario with a population of 600 people.  It is the smallest municipality in Ontario with both water and waste water systems.   The waste water system is  wholly inadequate to service the needs of the community due to climate change and aging infrastructure.  Without being able to process effluent, thousands of litres has been hauled to a neighbouring community by truck over the past couple of years to a total cost of $800,000.  The situation poses an environmental and public safety threat to the Village and surrounding community.

The Village needs the help of the provincial government to complete a project of this magnitude.  To think that the Village’s small tax base can complete it on its own is unreasonable. Westport was turned down for an OCIF 2 grant and now for OCIF 3 as well.  It is difficult to understand how this critical work to bring the Village into compliance with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is not a priority with your government.  

  Premier, what are you and your government going to do to help the Village of Westport?