Municipal Affairs
September 6, 2016
Supporting Municipal Infrastructure
Municipalities Receive $15.6 Million Installment of Federal Gas Tax Funding
The Federal Government has provided Newfoundland and Labrador with more than $15.6 million for community infrastructure through the federal Gas Tax Fund, representing the first of two allocations for 2016-17. The province will receive a total of more than $31 million through the fund this year.
"The federal Gas Tax Fund allows communities to direct federal dollars to their particular infrastructure priorities across a wide range of project categories. Whether a community needs to expand their recreational centre, repair roads, enhance a wastewater treatment system, or make energy-saving upgrades to municipal buildings - this funding offers predictable, reliable and flexible support that reflects the Federal Government's commitment to investing in infrastructure that makes a real difference in people's lives at the local level."
- The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
The 2016-17 Gas Tax Fund allocation for each of the province's 276 municipalities, which is provided on a per capita basis, can be viewed here: news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1119949
"Communities throughout this province continue to benefit from the federal Gas Tax Fund by focusing on projects that enhance the lives of residents. This fund is one important tool that our municipalities can use to help deliver strong municipal services and meet infrastructure needs."
- The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The funding will be used to support improvements to local roads and bridges, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, recreational and sport infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, cultural infrastructure, community capacity building, disaster mitigation community energy systems, and more. In addition, $8.85 million has been allocated through the Gas Tax Fund this year to support the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy.
The Gas Tax Fund provides Canadian municipalities with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term funding. It offers local communities the flexibility to make strategic investments across 18 different project categories, including roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities.
For more information, see: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html .
QUICK FACTS
- The Federal Government has provided Newfoundland and Labrador with more than $15.6 million for community infrastructure through the federal Gas Tax Fund. This is the first of two installments being provided for 2016-17.
- The province will receive a total of more than $31 million through the fund this year.
- The Gas Tax Fund has provided over $274 million to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador since its introduction in 2005.
- The Gas Tax Fund provides Canadian municipalities with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term funding.
- It offers local communities the flexibility to make strategic investments across 18 different project categories, including roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and recreational facilities.
- A total of $2 billion is made available nationally each year through two installments.
- Communities can use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank the funds for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects or use it to finance major infrastructure expenditures.
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Media contacts:
Brook Simpson
Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities 613-219-0149 Brook.Simpson@canada.ca |
Heather May
Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-1983, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 Toll free: 1-877-250-7154 infc.media-medias.infc@canada.ca Twitter: @INFC_eng Web: Infrastructure Canada |
2016 09 06 11:35 a.m.