Township of Enniskillen, Ontario, October 7, 2011 – TheTownship ofEnniskillen and the Town ofPetrolia, together with the Government of Canada, today celebrated the completion of the reconstruction of Discovery Line fromMarthaville Road toEureka Street. The reconstruction of the 1.5 km stretch of road included the complete replacement of the road base, improvements that will result in more energy-efficient travel and a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
A joint effort between theTownshipofEnniskillenand the Town ofPetroliawas completed thanks to an investment from the federal Gas Tax Fund. TheTownshipofEnniskillendirected $100,000 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation toward the project. The Town ofPetroliacontributed $146,550 from the Gas Tax Fund and an additional $39,384 of municipal funds.
“The improvement of Discovery Line is a great example of what the federal Gas Tax Fund offers to communities,” said Patricia Davidson, Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This project has created jobs that support the local economy, and will enable travellers in the Petrolia and Enniskillen area to travel on a smoother road surface.”
“By working together with our neighbouring municipality and the federal government, The Township of Enniskillen was able to meet the local priority of reconstructing Discovery Line. The Gas Tax Fund’s flexibility has helped achieve a positive outcome for two communities,” said Kevin Marriott, Mayor of the Townshipof Enniskillen.
“Federal Gas Tax funding allowed Petrolia to make a great improvement to one of our busiest streets. Cooperating with theTownshipofEnniskillenand the federal government has created positive outcomes for both communities,” said John McCharles, Mayor of the Town ofPetrolia.
“The federal Gas Tax Fund acknowledges that all orders of government must work together to address the pressing need for infrastructure investment in our municipalities,” said Gary McNamara, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). “Stable and predictable, the Gas Tax Fund is supporting long-term investment in local priority projects right acrossOntario.”
The federal Gas Tax Fund provides municipalities with a stable and predictable source of funding for environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. Funding is also available for planning projects that contribute to the sustainability of communities and regions.
The Government of Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund, provides $746 million in funding annually for municipal infrastructure inOntario. On October 4, 2011, the Government of Canada tabled legislation that will make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion. Between 2010 and 2014, Enniskillen and Petrolia will receive $383,069 and $640,739 respectively from the federal Gas Tax Fund.
For additional information:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Duncan McTavish
Administrative Clerk
TownshipofEnniskillen
519-882-2490
John McCharles
Mayor of the Town ofPetrolia
519-882-2350
InfrastructureCanada
613-948-1148 OR Toll-Free 1-877-250-7154
