Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae was in Stratford on October 17 to announce what he termed "significant" funding for his riding.
Rae announced just over $14.2 million from the province's Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund. He says the funds will be shared across Perth-Wellington.
"It really is up to the local municipality what it is they want to spend this on. So, whether that's a road, bridge, a highway of any sort, housing-enabling infrastructure like water and wastewater, it really is so the municipalities can address those local needs," Rae explained.
Rae notes that when it comes to water and wastewater expansions, there are ever growing communities in his riding where that type of work is critical.
"An individual take occupancy of a new home unless there's a pipe to the toilets in that home. So, housing-enabling infrastructure and wastewater infrastructure, sewers, I'm always happy to open a sewer main because I know at the end of that sewer main there are homes that people are ready to take possession of, or move into or rent," added Rae.
The money from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund is part of the government's $190 billion capital plan to build and expand more homes, highways, hospitals, transit, and high-speed internet across the province.
In terms of the ongoing expansion of internet access, Rae says he recently hosted the provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Kinga Surma, to announce more funding for the SWIFT internet project in southern Ontario.
"So that was for $34 million, across southwestern Ontario, but a significant amount of that is going to Wellington County, in particular, with Wightman as the partner there to deliver that. But I know other providers in our area continue to put fibre optics in the ground to ensure that more farms and families can access high-speed internet," Rae said.
“Small, rural and northern communities are essential to the growth and prosperity of Ontario,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “By providing direct and stable funding to these communities, our government is helping create local jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.”
The full funding breakdown for Rae's riding for this latest round of funding is as follows:
2025 Funding
Wellington County
$2,350,140.00
Mapleton
$1,311,355.00
Minto
$1,512,130.00
North Perth
$1,025,666.00
Perth County
$597,558.00
Perth East
$353,579.00
Perth South
$447,790.00
St Marys
$539,940.00
Stratford
$3,582,916.00
Wellington North
$1,429,951.00
West Perth
$1,133,590.00
Total
$ 14,284,615.00
