Municipal Affairs
May 11, 2016
Building Strong Communities
Provincial Government Recognizes Municipal Awareness Day
Today is Municipal Awareness Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, and communities throughout the province are planning activities to mark the occasion.
"Municipal Awareness Day provides an opportunity to recognize and thank the many local government leaders and staff who work with us to provide valuable services to communities and residents throughout the province."
- Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The Provincial Government has made a very deliberate effort to support municipalities, despite the province's difficult financial circumstances.
"Budget 2016 saw no reductions to Municipal Operating Grants; no changes to cost-sharing ratios for municipal capital works and no changes to initiatives announced under the Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP). In fact, under the CSP alone, the continuation of the HST rebate and the increase in the shared provincial gas tax revenue, will see about $16.7 million available to municipalities this year - an increase of over $11 million as compared to last year."
- Minister Joyce
The approval of municipal infrastructure projects is also being accelerated this year in order to take full advantage of federal funding under the New Building Canada Fund and the recently announced Clean Water Wastewater Fund.
Over the next four years, the Provincial Government will invest about $344 million for new and existing municipal infrastructure projects, which will leverage over $146 million in federal funding. With municipal contributions included, the result is a $625 million investment in municipal infrastructure.
QUICK FACTS:
- May 11 is Municipal Awareness Day in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Municipal Awareness Day provides an opportunity to recognize and thank the many local government leaders and staff who work to provide valuable services to communities and residents throughout the province.
- Under the Community Sustainability Partnership, about $16.7 will be available this year through the continuation of the HST rebate and the increase in the shared provincial gas tax revenue. This represents an increase of over $11 million as compared to last year.
- There are 276 municipalities and over 170 local service districts in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media contact:
| Heather May
Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
2016 05 11 4:00 p.m.