TORONTO - Almost $600 million will be spent to complete more than 500 "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects in the Toronto area.
The federal government will contribute about $200 million and Toronto will provide the balance of the funding.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says the projects will include road and sewer repairs, upgrades to public buildings and improved attractions.
The federal money is drawn from Ottawa's two-year, $4-billion fund to finance job-creating construction on highways, buildings, bridges, arenas and other infrastructure projects.
The infrastructure money is part of the $40-billion stimulus fund announced in Flaherty's budget introduced in January.
Flaherty told a news conference at Toronto's Exhibition Place that it's important to keep stimulating the economy.
Mayor David Miller said the investment will create or protect about 7,000 jobs when they are needed most during the "fragile recovery."
The federal cash comes just months after Ottawa rejected Toronto's request for money from the stimulus fund for new streetcars.
