Government of Canada Delivers More Than $391 Million to Ontario for Community Infrastructure Projects

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 8, 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 Ontario with more than $391 million for community infrastructure through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF), representing the first of two annual allocations for 2016−17. In total, Ontario will be provided with more than $782 million through the fund this year.

Funding will be used for projects such as the revitalized library in Richmond Hill, the re-installation of railway track in St. Thomas, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in Sudbury.

The two GTF installments for this year are in addition to funds going to Ontario 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 $7 billion to communities in Ontario since its introduction in 2005.
• The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) is the provincial signatory to the GTF Administrative Agreement. Infrastructure Canada works with the MMAH, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the City of Toronto to implement the Agreement.
• $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, 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 Gas Tax Fund provides an important source of funding that Ontario municipalities need for local infrastructure projects and recognizes the importance of asset management planning."

- The Honourable Bill Mauro, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs

"The Association of Municipalities of Ontario administers the federal Gas Tax Fund to 443 Ontario municipalities on a per capita basis. Our unique arrangement allows municipal governments to direct federal funding exactly where it is needed the most. Federal Gas Tax investment is helping to build strong communities across Ontario by improving the places where we live, work and do business."

- Lynn Dollin, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

"The City of Toronto welcomes this year's installment of $160 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund, which is being directed to the TTC to make a much needed investment in our city's transit system," said Toronto Mayor John Tory. "The funding will be used for TTC fleet replacement and state of good repair so people of Toronto can get around our city easier and faster. We will continue to work with our federal and provincial partners to move transit forward."

- His Worship John Tory, Mayor of Toronto

Related products

Federal Gas Tax allocations for Ontario communities in 2016-17

Associated links

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

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