Ontario Construction Report staff writer
The City of Ottawa is looking for federal funds for infrastructure projects including self-cleaning public washrooms, a revitalization of the ByWard Market building and millions in building retrofits.
During a special meeting in December, council approved a list of 69 projects to submit to the Ontario and federal governments for funding under the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream. The city has been allocated $20.1 million for projects.
Included on the list:
- $430,000 for stand-alone, self-cleaning public washrooms for the ByWard Market and on Sparks Street.
- $750,000 toward a $1.5 million expansion of the Beacon Hill North Community Centre.
- $5.7 to $6.5 million new youth services facility in the Heatherington community
- $950,000 project for work on the ByWard Market building.
- $5 million for a Boys and Girls Club clubhouse In Gloucester-Southgate.
In addition, there are more than $8.6 million in multi-use pathways, pedestrian crossovers, sidewalks, way-finding and picnic areas in parks and about $5 million in building retrofits and upgrades like ventilation, energy-efficient lighting and windows, WiFi and safety features, at shelters, community centres and arenas.
Approved projects must be started before Sept. 30, 2021 and be substantially completed by Dec. 31, 2021.
This timeline effectively gives approximately six to eight months for construction, and little or no time for design and approvals. Contracts must be awarded after federal approval of funding (i.e., Spring 2021). Costs incurred before federal approval, and all expenditure related to contracts signed prior to federal approval, are not eligible for reimbursement.
Further, if a project is not substantially completed by the December 31, 2021, the city may forfeit the entire allocation for that project.
Because of the Jan. 7 deadline for submissions, council waived the Rules of Procedure to consider a motion to delegate authority to the General Manager of Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development to submit projects.
