Building stronger communities across Nova Scotia with federal Gas Tax Fund

First of two annual funding transfers now available for 50 communities across the province

HALIFAX, Aug. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - Investing in modern, efficient public infrastructure is key to promoting economic growth, strengthening the middle class and developing healthy sustainable communities.

The Government of Canada delivered the first of two $29.2 million annual installments of the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) to Nova Scotia. In total, the province will be provided with over $58.5 million this year through the fund.

The GTF is a long-term, indexed source of funding that supports local infrastructure projects across the province each year. In Annapolis County, the GTF will support the installation of rural, high speed internet and wireless access to unserviced areas, allowing residents to connect with family and friends more often, and increasing access to online employment opportunities.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will begin a paving program for local and collector roads while also rebuilding curb, storm sewer and waterlines, to improve road and sidewalk safety. The Halifax Regional Municipality will revitalize the Halifax Transit Fleet with the purchase of new buses, replacing older buses. This will reduce maintenance costs, increase service reliability and lower carbon emissions.  

Broadband and connectivity, roads, and transit are only three of the 18 project categories eligible for funding under the program. This wide range demonstrates the flexibility of the GTF in allowing communities to direct their allocations to their most pressing local needs.

Quotes

"Local governments know best what their communities need, and the Government of Canada is proud to deliver stable, long-term funding that they count on to develop and maintain their public infrastructure. By investing in our communities, the Government of Canada is promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability, strengthening the middle class and helping ensure all Canadians have access to the opportunities they need to succeed."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The investments that Nova Scotia municipalities make with Gas Tax funds help build and revitalize local public infrastructure while supporting economic growth, a clean environment, and strong rural and urban communities."

The Honourable Chuck Porter, Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs

Quick Facts

• The two federal Gas Tax Fund installments for this year flow to communities through the provincial government under the Investing in Canada plan. 
• Communities can invest across 18 different project categories. They can also use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank them for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects or use them to finance major infrastructure expenditures.
• Through its Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Related product

2018-2019 federal Gas Tax Fund allocations in Nova Scotia by community:

Backgrounder

Nova Scotia's 2018-19 federal Gas Tax Fund allocations

The Government of Canada delivered the first of two annual $29.2 million federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) instalments to Nova Scotia. The funding will flow through the provincial government to the 50 communities listed below. In total, the GTF will provide over $58.5 million this year for local infrastructure projects.

2018-19 GTF allocations per community¹

Ultimate Recipient	Allocation 2018-19
Amherst	$710,074
Annapolis Royal	$54,342
Annapolis	$874,762
Antigonish (Rural Municipality)	$666,420
Antigonish	$325,640
Argyle	$358,388
Barrington	$347,604
Berwick	$160,023
Bridgewater	$699,107
Cape Breton	$6,817,618
Chester	$616,150
Clare	$386,433
Clark's Harbour	$45,749
Colchester	$1,762,312
Cumberland	$1,240,655
Digby (Rural Municipality)	$385,961
Digby	$178,972
East Hants	$1,133,337
Guysborough	$355,807
Halifax	$26,551,460
Inverness	$707,952
Kentville	$470,705
Kings	$2,212,111
Lockeport	$41,573
Lunenburg (Rural Municipality)	$1,214,141
Lunenburg	$208,879
Mahone Bay	$83,897
Middleton	$143,789
Mulgrave	$58,816
New Glasgow	$815,730
Oxford	$94,807
Pictou (Rural Municipality)	$1,082,977
Pictou	$229,485
Port Hawkesbury	$247,210
Queens	$703,427
Richmond	$494,436
Shelburne (Rural Municipality)	$249,756
Shelburne	$135,440
St. Mary's	$146,543
Stellarton	$344,556
Stewiacke	$84,140
Trenton	$157,632
Truro	$999,866
Victoria	$444,638
West Hants	$754,633
Westville	$234,259
Windsor	$257,081
Wolfville	$335,199
Yarmouth (Rural Municipality)	$507,392
Yarmouth	$597,135

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¹ Amounts listed per municipality exclude administrative costs.

For more information on the Gas Tax Fund, please visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html

For more information on the federal Gas Tax Fund in Nova Scotia, please visit: http://www.novascotia.ca/dma/funding/infrastructure/gas-tax-fund.asp

Associated links

Investing in Canada, Canada's long-term infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/ns-eng.html

The federal Gas Tax Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html

The federal Gas Tax Fund in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/dma/funding/infrastructure/gas-tax-fund.asp

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Kate Monfette, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-301-0894, [e-mail]; Susan Mader-Zinck, Communications Assistant, Department of Municipal Affairs, 902-499-1343, [e-mail]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/