THUNDER BAY -- It's not clear what will be eligible under a new $31.5 billion provincial fund but Michael Gravelle said it's focus will likely be tackling the infrastructure deficit.
The Building Ontario Up program includes $15 billion over the next decade for regions outside of Toronto and Hamilton. Gravelle, the MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North and Minister of Northern Development and Mines, said pubic consultation will be key to determining what will and will not qualify.
"I am keen to be there myself to be part of that discussion, to listen keenly to the thoughts that come forward from the people in Northwestern Ontario," he said of a proposed meeting later this month.
The city will join a likely long list of other municipalities and organizations looking to outline priorities for the funding. Whether that means a proposed event centre for the city would qualify has yet to be seen. Gravelle said the challenge is that there will be a lot of good ideas coming forward.
On Monday city council put a report outlining options to fund the event centre on hold until it can figure out whether the project would qualify for the new provincial funding. Gravelle said the main focus woudl likely be major infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. It will also help communities connect to natural gas.
"At the same time it might not be able to meet all of the needs that everybody wants," Gravelle said. "I don't want to presuppose what may or may not qualify."
But focusing on infrastructure could be broadly defined Gravelle said, which is why the province and municipalities will work together to determine what will qualify.
He is hoping to see the four-laning between Thunder Bay and Nipigon continue through the program.
"I think it's to fair to say the complete funding may indeed come from this fund," he said.
