Municipal Affairs
July 8, 2016

Focusing on Municipal Infrastructure

Provincial-Territorial Ministers Discuss Infrastructure Challenges

Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government met with the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, in Quebec City this week to discuss municipal infrastructure and the timely distribution of program funding to address needs in both large and small communities.

�We had a very productive discussion about new and existing infrastructure programs, including the new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. This was particularly timely, as Newfoundland and Labrador projects were announced yesterday. With provincial and municipal contributions included, these cost-shared programs will put hundreds of millions of dollars into municipal infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador over the next several years � and create jobs in large and small communities alike.�
- The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs

The ministers� discussion centred around recent announcements made under Phase 1 of Investing in Canada, the Federal Government�s $120 billion infrastructure plan, and the upcoming Phase 2 of the plan, expected to be announced over the next year.

�I also had the opportunity to raise issues with respect to streamlining project approvals under the New Building Canada Fund programs, and the continued need for flexibility and provincial involvement in federal program design. The new Federal Government has demonstrated a very collaborative approach on these issues in the past several months, recognizing that program eligibility criteria may not always address the unique needs of individual jurisdictions.�
- Minister Joyce

In addition to infrastructure, provincial and territorial ministers also discussed issues around municipal finances, community planning, and the modernization of municipal governance during the two-day meeting.

To learn more about Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada�s new $120 billion infrastructure plan, visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan . For more information on the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, see: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf/cwwf-program-programme-eng.html.

QUICK FACTS

• The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs, was in Quebec City this week (July 5-7) for the annual meeting of Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government.
• Ministers discussed issues of common interest, including municipal finances, community planning, the modernization of local governance, and municipal infrastructure.
• The meeting included an opportunity to discuss federal infrastructure programs with the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
• The discussion centred around recent announcements made under Phase 1 of Investing in Canada, the Federal Government�s $120 billion infrastructure plan, and the upcoming Phase 2 of the plan, expected to be announced over the next year.
• To learn more about Investing in Canada, see: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan

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2016 07 08                              2:15 p.m.