Government of Canada Delivers More Than $27 Million to Nova Scotia for Community Infrastructure Projects

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 6, 2016) - Infrastructure Canada

Investing in infrastructure is vital to creating middle class jobs today and sustained economic growth for years to come. Modern, efficient community infrastructure contributes to a high quality of life by helping connect people to jobs, improve water systems, and support new business opportunities.

The Government of Canada has now provided Nova Scotia with more than $27 million for community infrastructure through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF), representing the first of two annual allocations for 2016−17. In total, Nova Scotia will be provided with more than $55 million through the fund this year.

Based on planned projects for this year, Gas Tax funding in Nova Scotia is expected to support more than 180 local infrastructure projects. They vary in size across 13 eligible funding categories. Examples include transit bus replacements in Halifax Regional Municipality, repaving Victoria Street in in the Town of Antigonish, construction of new aquatic centre and skateboard parks in the Municipality of East Hants, new LED light installations in the Municipality of Cumberland, and expansion of the regional library in the Town of Pictou.

The two GTF installments for this year are in addition to funds being made available to Nova Scotia under other existing programs and two new federal funding programs: the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The latter are part of Phase 1 of the Government of Canada's 10-year, $120-billion Investing in Canada plan.

Quick facts

• The GTF has provided over $500 million to communities in Nova Scotia since its introduction in 2005.
• More than $2 billion is made available nationally each year through two installments.
• The GTF 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.
• 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.
• Phase 1 of Investing in Canada provides $11.9 billion in investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects, and social infrastructure projects. Details on Phase 2 of Investing in Canada will be announced over the next few months.

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, 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 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."

Nova Scotia Finance Minister Randy Delorey on behalf of Municipal Affairs Minister Zach Churchill

Related products

Federal Gas Tax allocations for Nova Scotia communities in 2016−17: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1119999

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

Have your say on infrastructure: www.infraconsults.ca

Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $120-billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada