The federal government’s extension of the deadline for completion of Economic Stimulus Fund projects from March 1 to Oct. 1, 2011 should allow all projects in Ottawa to be completed with full funding, the city’s general manager of infrastructure services predicted Thursday.
“Barring unforeseen circumstances, this announcement will allow the city to complete 100 per cent of the work under the program,” Wayne Newell wrote in a memo to the mayor and council.
As of Sept. 30, 63 out of 115 projects in Ottawa were complete. Outstanding projects are valued at $369.1 million.
City of Ottawa figures indicated only two per cent of local projects, or about $8 million worth, wouldn’t be completed by the old March 31 deadline. Nationally, it’s about 25 per cent.
“Premier McGuinty led the way to protect the jobs these projects are creating, and we are pleased the federal government has listened,” Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli, who is also MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean, said.
“Some projects need a little extra time, and it just makes sense to give them one more construction season.”
