Item - 2019.EX9.4

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the City Manager to apply for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream for the projects currently in the City's 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan that are set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2019) from the City Manager.
 

2.  City Council authorize the City Manager to apply for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream for the projects not currently in the City's 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan that are set out in Attachment 2 to the report (October 17, 2019) from the City Manager, with budget reallocation of matching municipal funds with zero debt impact subject to further approvals from City Council.

3.  City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to apply for funding under any additional rounds of intake for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream for projects that meet mandatory federal and provincial eligibility criteria and that best meet the following criteria:

a. the project aligns with Ontario's Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream assessment objectives;

b. City Council has endorsed the project through a City strategy, plan or decision;

c. the project is within the City's 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan as approved by Council;

d. the project is in a state of readiness with adequate level of design to proceed to construction;

e. a site has been secured for the project; and

f. the project is located within a Toronto Neighbourhood Improvement Area.

4.  City Council grant approval to receive the funds, if any, from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream for all City projects approved for Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream funding.

5.  City Council authorize the Mayor and/or the City Manager to enter into and execute any agreements, including any amendments, with the Province of Ontario and/or Government of Canada under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream on terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

On September 3, 2019, the Province of Ontario launched an intake for the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation funding stream. The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation stream supports projects that improve access to and/or quality of community, cultural, and recreation priority infrastructure projects. The federal government will contribute up to 40 percent of eligible project costs for municipal projects and requires the Province to provide no less than 33.33 percent matching contribution with municipalities funding the remainder (26.67 percent) or identifying alternative sources to cover the municipal portion. The Province, as a cost-sharing partner and administrator of the federal funding program, will be prioritizing and nominating to the federal government projects that are community-oriented, non-commercial and open to the public. Applications are due by November 12, 2019. Projects must be substantially completed by March 31, 2027.

The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation intake process is a merit-based, competitive application process with no set municipal allocation. As such, it is in the City's interest to submit multiple eligible project applications to ensure the best chance at success. To date, the Province has committed to only one intake for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation stream due to anticipated high demand for funding under the program. However, the Province has noted that this does not exclude the potential for a second intake in the future.

This report recommends City Council confirm the list of projects to be submitted to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation program that are currently in the City's 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan as outlined in Attachment 1. The report also recommends City Council confirm the list of projects to be submitted to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation program that are not currently in the City's 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan as outlined in Attachment 2. Should projects in Attachment 2 be successful for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation program, City staff will seek Council approval for the reallocation of matching municipal funds through the City's budget process.