Ontario will receive about $6.2 billion dollars from federal and provincial coffers to improve infrastructure, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced Thursday.
Cannon said Ottawa will give more than $3 billion to help repair the province's aging roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
The provincial government of Ontario has promised to match the amount, raising the total to the $6.2 billion mark.
The minister, speaking to reporters in London, Ont., said the funding was long overdue for the province.
A large portion of the money will be spent on improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway in northwestern Ontario, rural broadband coverage in southern and eastern Ontario and rapid transit in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region.
"Our government will work with Ontario to identify and deliver upon those infrastructure needs most critical to Ontarians," said Cannon. "We will do that in the spirit of open federalism and co-operation."
The minister said ensuring the "economic and environmental viability and vitality of Canada" was a top priority for the federal government.
"Investments in infrastructure help support a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and a more secure Canada," he said.
Ontario Deputy Premier George Smitherman said Thursday's announcement proves that both levels of government are working together to build a stronger province.
The money is also expected to help create jobs in the province, which has been hard hit by cutbacks in the manufacturing and auto sector.
The federal-provincial deal will stretch until 2014.
With files from The Canadian Press
