Applications for the community, culture and recreation infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) opened on Nov. 9.
Under the program guidelines, eligible projects will receive at least 40 per cent funding from the federal government. For municipal projects approved under the program, provinces may contribute up to 33 per cent of the cost.
For the 2021-22 intake, community, culture, and infrastructure projects must have a cost minimum of $100,000, and a maximum total cost of $50 million.
The federal and provincial governments signed a bilateral agreement in 2018 to provide more than $900 million for infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan. The total program cost country-wide exceeds $33 billion, and will run until 2028.
The total federal program funding for the Community, Culture, and Recreation stream of ICIP in Saskatchewan is $56.2 million.
Projects have two opportunities for approval: Phase 1 projects are considered “shovel-ready,” which means they will be ready to start by Jan. 11, 2022; Phase 2 projects are those that require more planning before being put submitted for approval. Phase 2 may include initially unsuccessful Phase 1 projects. The Phase 2 application period ends on May 10, 2022.
Project timelines for this intake must not exceed October 2027, and must be self-sufficient after completion. Municipalities are responsible for cost over-runs and delays after the initial project approval has been given and a plan established. If the project is significant, federal and provincial oversight authorities must be kept informed of all progress and/or delays.
Community, culture, and recreation projects could include such cultural infrastructure as museums and Indigenous heritage centres, recreational facilities, and community infrastructure such as libraries and civic centres.
For-profit private or primarily commercial projects are not eligible for funding under the Community, Culture and Recreation stream.
In addition, every ICIP project must meet high standards of value-for-money, climate-consciousness, and consideration of First Nation interests.
City of Moose Jaw communications manager Craig Hemingway confirmed that the city has no plans yet for a project application. Each applicant, including municipalities, may submit only a single project for consideration.
In Moose Jaw and the surrounding area so far, approved ICIP projects include nearly $800,000 toward placing solar panels on several city buildings; over $3 million to renovate the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport; and over $220 million (over $80 million in federal funding) toward the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant renewal.
