Georgian Bay, Ontario, September 25, 2012 – Township of Georgian Bay residents are enjoying a smoother, safer commute thanks to funding from the Government of Canada for a series of road improvements.
"By investing in local infrastructure, our government is creating jobs and improving the quality of life in communities across Canada,"
said the Honourable Tony Clement, Member of Parliament for Parry Sound—Muskoka, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario. "I am pleased that these road improvements will support the local economy and help residents and visitors of the Township reach their destinations safely."
"The Township of Georgian Bay continues to work on annual roads capital projects in order to provide sustainable roads,"
said Township of Georgian Bay Mayor Larry Braid. "This capital work is often expensive and financially impacts our constituents. The monies received from the Government of Canada via the Gas Tax Fund allow us to maximize our annual capital projects. The Township of Georgian Bay has identified many roads that are excellent candidates for slurry seal. This seal extends the useful life of the road and provides a safe driving surface for our residents and visitors."
The five improved roads are Ogemawahj Road, Gala Lake Road, Stewart Lake Road, Hill Side Drive and Tree Line Court. Each road was resurfaced with a slurry seal, which will reduce maintenance costs and extend its life span by three to five years. The total cost of these improvements was $126,000, toward which the Township of Georgian Bay applied $79,000 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation. The remaining $47,000 was provided by the Township.
"Canada's Gas Tax Fund acknowledges that all orders of government must work together to address the pressing need for infrastructure investment in our municipalities,"
said Russ Powers, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). "Stable and predictable, the Gas Tax Fund supports investment in local priority projects that lead to job creation and economic growth in communities right across Ontario."
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to local governments to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion per year. The Government of Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund alone, provides $746 million in funding annually for municipal infrastructure in Ontario. Between 2010 and 2014, the Township of Georgian Bay will receive $287,118 from the Gas Tax Fund.
The Government of Canada has engaged provinces, territories, municipalities and key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to guide the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan that will support job creation, economic growth and prosperity. We have heard that we are on the right track: there is a need for strong, sustained investment and we must continue to work together moving forward. To improve infrastructure across Canada and leverage new investment, our new long-term plan will encourage greater use of public-private partnerships, while respecting the capacity of Canadian taxpayers.
For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in Ontario and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Kevin Datema
Township of Georgian Bay
705-538-2337 extension 230
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
