Ontario is moving forward with five new community benefits projects, which will help support local communities during the development of major new public infrastructure, including employment and training opportunities, environmental protections, poverty reduction measures and small business supports.

The community benefit projects include the Finch West LRT, a new light rail transit line that will stretch from the Finch West TTC station to Humber College; West Park Healthcare Centre, a hospital providing specialized rehabilitation and complex-continuing care; Halton Region Consolidated Courthouse, a new 21-courtroom facility; Macdonald Block, a reconstruction of a government complex in Toronto; and Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, which will replace the city’s existing jail and correctional centre.

These upcoming projects follow the progress already made on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and are the next step towards the province’s commitment to have all major public infrastructure projects comply with a community benefits framework by 2020.

“By moving forward with these community benefits projects, we will ensure that new training and job opportunities are available for people and that the social and cultural needs of communities are closely intertwined with infrastructure planning and investment,” said Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure, in a press release.