The Ontario government is set to invest $879,549 into critical infrastructure projects in the Township of Scugog through the 2026 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF).
This funding is part of the province’s commitment to strengthening local economies and ensuring small, rural, and northern communities can maintain and renew essential public infrastructure.
Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham, highlighted the importance of the investment. “This investment of $879,549 will ensure the Township of Scugog has the vital infrastructure to remain an incredible place to live, work, and start a business.”
The OCIF directly addresses funding challenges faced by smaller municipalities, ensuring they can tackle high-priority projects like the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, water, and wastewater systems.
In 2026, Ontario will allocate $400 million in OCIF funding across 423 small, rural, and northern communities.
Key program updates include:
- The minimum grant amount for municipalities is increasing to $125,000 (up from ).
- Funding allocations are determined by a formula that accounts for the unique needs and economic conditions of each community.
- Municipalities have the flexibility to accumulate funding for up to five years to save toward larger, more complex infrastructure projects.
Investing in Future: Mayor Wotten
“Thank you to the Government of Ontario for recognizing the unique needs of small, rural communities like ours,” said Mayor Wotten. “Through the support of the OCIF, Scugog has been able to fund critical infrastructure projects to rehabilitate bridges, culverts, and roads. These investments strengthen our community network, support key industries such as agriculture through the movement of goods and people, and ensure the safety and reliability of essential infrastructure for our residents. By investing in our infrastructure, we are investing in our future.”
Since 2018, the Ontario government has provided $2.8 billion through the OCIF to support small, rural, and northern municipalities. The province is also investing an additional $4 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) to unlock more housing in growing communities.