Every Nova Scotia municipality to benefit from federal Gas Tax Fund transfer

First of two annual installments delivered to support local infrastructure priorities

HALIFAX, July 25, 2017 /CNW/ - Modern and up-to-date community infrastructure helps connect people to jobs and provides access to better community services, attracts new businesses and creates economic growth.

This month, the Government of Canada delivered the first of two annual $27 million federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) installments to Nova Scotia. In total, the province will be provided with over $55 million this year through the fund.  The funding, which flows through the provincial government to all of its municipalities, is now available to support community infrastructure projects.

Based on previous years, GTF funding supports approximately 180 local infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia each year.

Some examples of the projects being funded this year include the expansion of the boardwalk by the waterfront in the Town of Annapolis Royal. The Town of Bridgewater has plans to construct a new overhead pedestrian crosswalk system at Dufferin and Exhibition and the Regional Municipality of Halifax will improve and encourage active transportation through several new projects. The range of planned projects helps demonstrate the flexibility that the GTF provides.

The two Gas Tax Fund installments for this year are in addition to funds flowing to Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada plan.

Quotes

"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, upgrade 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

"Reliable infrastructure is the foundation for building healthy, strong and vibrant communities. Municipal investments through the Government of Canada's Gas Tax Fund will contribute to economic growth, job creation and productivity in Nova Scotia."

Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs

Quick facts

• Since the program was first introduced in 2005, over $588 million has been provided to Nova Scotia communities through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• The federal Gas Tax Fund makes over $2 billion available each year, and through it provides each community across Canada with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term funding. The funding is made available in two annual installments, in July and November.
• The federal Gas Tax Fund offers significant flexibility. Local communities can make strategic investments across 18 different project categories, including roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities. 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.
• 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.

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Backgrounder

This month, the Government of Canada delivered the first of two annual $27 million federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) installments to Nova Scotia. In total, the province will be provided with over $55 million this year through the fund. The funding, which flows through the provincial government to all of its communities on a per capita basis, is now available to support communities' local infrastructure projects.

The following table indicates this year's federal Gas Tax Fund allocation for each of Nova Scotia's communities.

Amherst	$679,621		Kentville	$447,869
Annapolis	$829,688		Kings	$2,094,338
Annapolis Royal	$52,206		Lockeport	$39,467
Antigonish (Town)	$307,195		Lunenburg (Town)	$199,122
Antigonish (Municipality)	$632,899		Lunenburg (Municipality)	$1,190,315
Argyle	$341,266		Mahone Bay	$79,481
Barrington	$329,242		Middleton	$136,565
Berwick	$150,921		Mulgrave	$54,329
Bridgewater	$671,835		New Glasgow	$773,603
Cape Breton	$6,471,870		Oxford	$90,600
Chester	$585,327		Pictou (Town)	$218,741
Clare	$367,819		Pictou (Municipality)	$1,024,068
Clark's Harbour	$43,618		Port Hawkesbury	$234,809
Colchester	$1,687,564		Region of Queens	$669,899
Cumberland	$1,189,892		Richmond	$468,338
Digby (Town)	$171,745		Shelburne (Town)	$128,206
Digby	$369,719		Shelburne (Municipality)	$234,737
Guysborough	$358,747		St. Mary's	$140,307
Halifax	$25,434,210		Stellarton	$325,136
Hants East	$1,069,706		Stewiacke	$80,362
Hants West	$714,454		Trenton	$152,263
Inverness	$671,790		Truro	$931,926
Victoria	$421,131		Wolfville	$316,899
Westville	$223,139		Yarmouth (Town)	$574,621
Windsor	$241,943		Yarmouth (Municipality)	$481,423

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

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

More on the federal Gas Tax Fund in Nova Scotia: http://novascotia.ca/dma/funding/infrastructure/gas-tax-fund.asp

Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $180 billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [e-mail]; Brian Taylor, Media Relations Advisor, 902-424-1750, Cell 902-220-1727, [e-mail]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [e-mail], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Web: Infrastructure Canada

Related Links

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