Project made possible thanks to federal Gas Tax Fund
Olds, Alberta, October 10, 2013 – Federal, provincial and municipal representatives gathered today to celebrate the completion of a new link between 51st Avenue and provincial Highway 27 in the Town of Olds. Thanks to Canada's Gas Tax Fund, the completion of this important initiative in the centre of the town will bring lasting benefits to local residents and businesses. The new road will improve access between the provincial highway and the Town of Olds for residents, businesses and tourists.
"This is a great example of the projects municipalities across Canada have undertaken thanks to the support and flexibility of the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer,"
said Blake Richards, Member of Parliament for Wild Rose, 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 is proud to have supported this initiative that transformed an unused lot into an important access point from the provincial highway to businesses in the centre of the town."
"The completion of a new link between 51st Avenue and Highway 27 provides direct access for all residents to the revitalized downtown and growing commercial district in Olds,"
said Ric McIver, Minister of Alberta Transportation. "Through our Building Alberta Plan, the Alberta government is pleased to work with federal and municipal governments to provide funding to local priorities."
"This project is a great example of all three levels of government working together in community development; the federal government and its Economic Action Plan and Gas Tax Fund, the provincial government through its Municipal Sustainability Initiative and the Town of Olds working with Chinooks Edge School Division and private industry to create a win, win, win for the Town of Olds, Chinooks Edge School Division and Cam Clark Ford,"
said Judy Dahl, Mayor of Olds.
Before the road could be built, the former school building on site was removed using sustainable recycling techniques which redirected 85 per cent of the material to be reused rather than the local landfill. For example, some material was incorporated into the base material for the new road.
The Town of Olds used its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation for the total project cost of $320,380.
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 now made the GTF a permanent transfer and has proposed improvements that will see the GTF grow from its current $2 billion per year while providing increased flexibility on how the money can be used to fund local infrastructure priorities. Discussions are underway with provinces and territories to renew the GTF agreements so that these improvements can be implemented as soon as possible. In Alberta, the program currently provides over $199.5 million of predictable, long-term funding annually to help municipalities build and revitalize public infrastructure. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund to provide additional funding for communities, starting in 2014.
This project is one of many that deliver on the Alberta government's commitment to strategic rehabilitation of our transportation infrastructure. It supports the Redford Government's priorities of investing in families and communities, and building Alberta through strategic investments in Alberta's core transportation network. This year the government will invest $1.4 billion in Alberta's highway network.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than one million net new jobs created since July 2009. The new Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure visit Infrastructure Canada or follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng.
Marie-Josée Paquette (Disponible en français)
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
John Lear
Communications
Alberta Transportation
780-422-7080
Norm McInnis
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Olds
403-556-6981
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
