The money from the province will be used for ongoing maintenance, repairs and renovations. The college will also receive $497,000 to buy and renew instructional equipment and learning resources.

The shutdown will close non-essential businesses for 14 days in the north and 28 days in southern regions. Unlike the spring shutdown, this closure will not impact construction.

The money comes to the university through the province’s expanded Facilities Renewal Program, and will be used to help address deferred maintenance projects. Year-one funding of $4.65 million is a boost of 58 percent over what the university collected for 2019–20.

Work on the Kingston-area bridge project hasn’t missed a beat because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project remains on schedule and on budget, with several key milestones achieved already and more planned through the remainder of 2020.

Media reports say the Ontario government is poised to impose a province−wide lockdown starting Christmas Eve in an effort to combat a surge in COVID−19 cases.