$3 million road construction project approved for Sharbot Lake

Jeff Green | Sep 27, 2019

The rehabilitation of Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake will be almost completely funded by a grant program from the federal and provincial governments, the township learned this week.

On August 30, the Province of Ontario announced that it was submitting 141 rural infrastructure projects for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

The Elizabeth Street project in Central Frontenac was one of those projects. Under a federal-provincial agreement, the submission from Ontario included a commitment to fund up to 1/3 of the project costs, up to $1.06 million.

On September 16, Central Frontenac Mayor Francis Smith received a letter from Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, Laurie Scott, informing her that “the federal government has approved your community’s project.”

That federal approval comes with a commitment to fund up to 60% of the project costs, up to $1.9 million. Those funding commitments mean that as long as the township can complete the project within a budget of $3.22 million, it will cost Central Frontenac ratepayers no more than $216,000.

The approval is subject to the completion of a transfer payment agreement between the township and the federal government, an environmental impact assessment, and Aboriginal consultation.

According to the provincial submission regarding the project, it includes the reconstruction of approximately 2 km of Elizabeth Street, including resurfacing, road widening, sidewalks, replacement of culverts, curbs, gutter and ditching, and improved parking. (Editors note – The 2km figure seems odd, since Elizabeth street is by no means 2km long)

Elizabeth Street is the main commercial street in Sharbot Lake. It meets Road 38 at the Cardinal Café and runs past offices and two churches, the Sharbot Lake Pharmasave, Mike Dean’s Grocery, a Canada Post outlet and a Royal Bank branch, the township office and library, Railway Heritage Park and Public Health Office. It then bends back to meet Road 38 again.

The township completed an engineering study for an upgrade to the street several years ago. The street has some drainage problems in the vicinity of the township office, among other issues of concern. Because of the cost, the project has never been seriously considered during township budget deliberations.

The township can proceed to tender and award on the project immediately, even if some of the final details of the funding agreement need to be finalised. 

The last sentence of the letter from Minister Scott brings some doubt about the funding, especially as we are in the midst of a federal election.

It reads: “please note that Canada and/or Ontario reserve the right, upon short notice, to change the terms and conditions of the Rural and Northern funding stream or to cancel the Rural and Northern funding stream and/or the ICIP Program.”

There is no indication, however, based on the party platforms and public statements during the election campaign, that any of the political parties contesting the election are inclined to renege on funding commitments towards infrastructure programs.