Toyota’s loan announcement comes on the heels of several local funding announcements by the federal government.
On Monday the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 530 learned it will receive as much as $160,000.
The University of Waterloo’s ice field will get $600,000.
On Thursday it was announced that $94,700 will got to tech company Northern Digital.
The University of Waterloo’s mathematics department got the biggest gift -- $30 million.
Even more announcements were made on Friday, including:
- $24.7 million for the University of Waterloo’s science department
- $250,000 to expand Wi-Fi in Kitchener
- $66,000 to build a replica train station in St. Jacobs
Altogether the Conservatives announced $56 million in funding for Waterloo Region this week.
Experts say the Conservatives are trying to boost voters’ confidence in their economic leadership.
“This means maybe they have another, bigger announcement this weekend,” says Andrea Perrella, the director of the Laurier Institute of Public Opinion Policy. “Most likely that they’re going to call an election.”
Perrella suggests the Conservatives are trying to off-set rumors of a looming recession.
“The swing voter may only begin to pay attention in late September, maybe even October. So these announcements many not carry. They may not have a whole lot of weight.”
