Project made possible thanks to federal Gas Tax Fund
Halton Hills, Ontario, August 23, 2013 – Halton Hills will soon benefit from the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer to advance local infrastructure priorities. Today, federal and municipal representatives visited the historic 27 Side Road Bridge restoration site, a project that will contribute to the quality of life in Halton Hills for years to come.
"The rehabilitation of the historic 27 Side Road Bridge will benefit residents and visitors alike for many years to come. Our government recognizes the importance of having safe and updated infrastructure, and is proud of its contribution to this project,"
said the Honourable Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington—Halton Hills, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. "Our government's infrastructure investments through the Gas Tax Fund transfer will continue to generate economic growth and job creation here in Halton Hills and across Canada for years to come."
"Infrastructure investments are critically important for all municipalities and we are very pleased to partner with the federal government on this initiative. Not only are we making much needed repairs to the bridge, but we are doing so in a manner that maintains the unique architecture and look of the structure,"
said Rick Bonnette, Mayor of the Town of Halton Hills.
"Canada's Gas Tax Fund delivers for Ontario's municipalities by meeting our pressing need for infrastructure investment,"
said Russ Powers, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). "Through our unique federal-municipal partnership, municipalities invest the Fund exactly where it is needed the most which helps to make our communities safer, more efficient and prosperous."
This project involves the rehabilitation of the stone arch 1.5-lane bridge structure located between Eighth Line and Fallbrook Trail. The arch is to be rehabilitated through repointing the masonry, replacing missing or damaged stones and repairing wingwalls, headwalls and embankments. The work also includes new concrete retaining walls, guide rail and road surface.
The Government of Canada contributed over $750,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer to this project, with the Town of Halton Hills providing the balance of the total project cost of approximately $850,000.
The federal Gas Tax Fund transfer provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this program, and passed legislation to make it a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund transfer to provide additional funding for communities going forward. Between 2010 and 2014, the Town of Halton Hills will receive over $6.78 million from the Gas Tax Fund transfer to improve local infrastructure.
AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO delivers Canada's Gas Tax Fund to Ontario municipalities, except Toronto, twice a year, on a per capita basis. The Ontario model is unique and has proven to deliver through its transparency and effectiveness. Municipalities rely on the Fund's administration model which provides flexibility and a long-term, predictable and stable allocation to invest in local priority projects.
The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the 401-407 Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets — Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval — and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is the 2013 recipient of the National Municipal Environmental Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and is ranked as one of the Top 5 small communities in Canada by a national magazine.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
For more information on the Federal Gas Tax Fund at work in Ontario communities, visit Gas Tax At Work or @GasTaxInOntario on Twitter.
Marie-Josée Paquette (Disponible en français)
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs,
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Tony Iavarone
Manager, Corporate Communications
Town of Halton Hills
905-873-2601 ext. 2601
tonyi@haltonhills.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
