The Ontario government is putting large amounts of funding toward healthcare, long-term care, transportation, education, and other infrastructure through its public-private delivery model. .“We will keep engaging with key stakeholders to understand the current economic environment and identify solutions to overcome challenges and help us continue to build on our successes,” said Ontario Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma in a Tuesday press release. .“At the same time, we are investing in critical infrastructure projects to help create jobs, support our economic future, and ensure the health and well-being of all Ontarians.”.Infrastructure Ontario’s latest market update lists 39 major infrastructure projects, with an estimated value of $35 billion. The market update is a list of public projects in the pre-procurement, procurement, and planning stages for which Ontario has directed spending to. .It helps potential local and global private sector partners organize their time and resources to ensure Ontario receives quality bids for its public infrastructure projects..“We have been relentless in bringing projects to market and refreshing the pipeline while considering new government priorities,” said Infrastructure Ontario CEO Michael Lindsay. .“Continuing to deliver on the government’s historic commitments means continuously improving upon and evolving how we attract the best companies to compete for our work and deliver great projects on behalf of the government and people of Ontario.”.The release said some of the highlights of the update include Ontario Public Works plan for the Ontario Place site servicing and Education Ontario’s rapid builds programs moving into pre-procurement. It said the Ontario Line’s north segment has been put in active procurement, while the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General’s Ontario Provincial Police modernization Phase 3 is in planning. .“Our government is continuing to get the job done through our partnership and collaboration with the construction sector,” said Surma. .The Ontario government accelerated spending as part of its pre-election budget in April, with an emphasis on building roads, expanding hospitals and tax breaks for some workers and seniors..READ MORE: Ontario Conservatives’ pre-election budget sees big spending and continued deficits.Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy defended the $198.6 billion budget, saying now is the time for the province to invest and rebuild..“Sparing no expense during the pandemic was the right thing to do,” said Bethlenfalvy.
