By Cecilia Nasmith
Both Federal and provincial governments are investing almost $39-million in the upgrading of infrastructure at local schools.
Thanks to the COVID-19 Reliance Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, $10,750,000 will be invested in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, with allocations of $8,356,433 to the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board, $11,024,000 to Conseil scolaire Viamonde and $8,782.425 to Conseil scolaire catholique Mon Avenir.
This funding will support building retrofits, updates and upgrades for schools and their co-located child-care facilities such as HVAC renovations to improve air quality, water-bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water, and space reconfigurations that enhance physical distancing.
“This investment will help further improve the safety of schools, and supports parents, staff and students who want in-person learning protected,” Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said in the announcement.
“Supporting air-quality and other infrastructure projects in schools helps to protect our communities, making them stronger, healthier and safer today, and for years to come.”
These investments build on more than $1-billion the Ontario government has invested since 2019 in new schools and child-care spaces and additions. Supported by provincial funding, 95% of Ontario schools have reported upgrades or enhancements to their air-filtration systems, with more than 40,000 HEPA filters and other ventilation devices in classrooms. Minister of Education Stephen Lecce noted in the announcement that schools also benefit from 7,000 additional staff and improved cleaning, testing and stronger screening.
“We also recognize that, in addition to these school-based infrastructure investments, Ontario's plan to defeat this pandemic includes vaccines for school staff,” Lecce added.
“We have prioritized education staff in high-priority communities and all special-education staff across the province, and will expand to all staff as supply becomes available.”
The Government of Canada is investing up to $525.2-million towards these projects through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, with the province contributing $131.3-million to the projects.
