The City of Ottawa is getting $20 million in provincial funding to build a civic archive in Nepean, and the mayor has given his word that the money won't be used for anything else.

Work on the $38-million project to construct a new home for civic government and private records near Ben Franklin Place is to begin next year.

Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson made the announcement Friday, a day after Ottawa council voted to use $14.6 million in provincial funding intended for new roads and bridges to indirectly pay snow-clearing costs.

Watson's announcement was well received by Mayor Larry O'Brien, who kept his arm on Watson's shoulder as he gave his thanks.

Afterward, reporters questioned Watson about what he thought of the city's use of the infrastructure funds.

Watson — who was mayor of Ottawa from 1997 to 2000 and a city councillor from 1991 to 1997 — said he supported what the city did and would have done something similar.

"It's not my role to micromanage the City of Ottawa budget," he said. "When you're dealing with year-end money, there are no strings attached, so the city is within its rights to do that."

Funds used for snow-clearing deficit

The province announced the millions in infrastructure money for Ottawa on Thursday. At the time, city council was trying to find a way to cover a projected deficit in its snow-clearing budget after this winter's heavy snowfall.

In the end, the city opted to use money from its road maintenance reserve to cover snow-clearing and use the provincial infrastructure money to replenish the road maintenance reserve.

Watson added that he is hopeful his government's Investing in Ontario Act, which will make it illegal for cities to spend surplus money from the province on anything but infrastructure, will soon pass at Queen's Park to prevent that type of move in the future.

With the provincial funding, Ottawa's property-tax increase will remain 4.9 per cent for the coming fiscal year. The city had also considered a "snow tax" to clear the snow-removal deficit, but the measure was defeated on Wednesday.

The City of Ottawa archives are currently stored at the central archives on Sussex Drive as well as at branches in Gloucester and North Gower.