Today, City Council voted to approve the capital budget for 2023, totaling $17,329,041. Capital projects cover a wide range of services including transportation improvements, water and sanitary service upgrades, housing projects, capital grants to community groups, snow clearing equipment and playground infrastructure.

“The identified projects for 2023 address high priority areas,” explained Councillor Ron Ellsworth, Council Lead for Finance and Administration. “In 2023, $7.6M has been earmarked to purchase new equipment to replace our aging fleet and to support Council’s commitment to improved sidewalk snow clearing. We are also pleased to be meeting our Canada Games capital commitment and to be proceeding with the design of the Kelly’s Brook shared use path.”

In 2023, some key projects include making intersection improvements at Blackhead Road and Linegar Avenue; upgrading the field lighting at the Caribou Complex; and hiring a consultant to perform a review of the mechanical systems at the Paul Reynolds Community Centre.

The full list of approved capital projects (below) for 2023 includes:

• Over $4.3M in construction projects, including the annual grind and patch program to repair city streets; sidewalk, curb and gutter repair; sidewalk infill program; and culvert replacements
• $450K in traffic calming and safety initiatives
• $1.25M for grants, including the Canada Games capital commitment
• Investing $1.4M in City facilities and $7.6M on fleet acquisition, sidewalk tractors and survey equipment
• $1.33M in park projects
• $400K in information technology projects

The City’s Capital out of Revenue program is determined annually and funded primarily from an allocation from the City’s annual operating budget, as well as other sources. This program is different from the City’s larger cost-shared capital arrangements with the Federal and Provincial Governments, for which the City borrows its share of the cost.