Canada's Gas Tax Fund supports local infrastructure priorities throughout Alberta
November 10, 2014 – Edmonton, Alberta – Infrastructure Canada
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, and Regional Minister for Northern Alberta, and the Honourable Diana McQueen, Minister of Municipal Affairs for Alberta celebrated today a renewed federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) Agreement that provides predictable, stable funding for public infrastructure across Alberta.
The federal GTF provides municipalities with the flexibility to choose and plan infrastructure projects based on their specific priorities. The renewed agreement governs the flow of an estimated $2.27 billion in federal funds to Alberta over the next 10 years, from 2014-15 until 2023-24. This year $208 million has been made available for local projects that meet the needs of communities across the province.
Since 2006, significant improvements have been made to the Gas Tax Fund; it has been extended, doubled, indexed and made permanent. By enshrining these commitments in legislation, provinces, territories and municipalities are assured of an ongoing funding stream to address their municipal infrastructure needs and priorities. Eligible categories have also been expanded, providing municipalities with more flexibility than ever before to support local infrastructure.
With this agreement, the governments of Canada and Alberta are ensuring a seamless transition to the New Building Canada Plan, the largest long-term federal commitment to investing in Canada's public infrastructure in our nation's history.
- Canada's Gas Tax Fund transfer has provided $14 billion to Canadian communities to date. Over the 10-year life of the New Building Canada Plan from 2014 to 2024, the Gas Tax Fund will provide close to $22 billion in funding for municipalities.
- In total, the New Building Canada Plan will provide $53 billion in funding to communities across the country over the next decade. For Alberta, this represents more than $3.2 billion in dedicated federal funding, including almost $942 million under the New Building Canada Fund and an estimated $2.27 billion under the federal Gas Tax Fund*.
- Since the beginning of the program, over 2,000 projects have benefitted from funding under the Gas Tax Fund in Alberta.
- For example, during the 2013 construction season, the federal Gas Tax Fund supported projects such as:
- City of Calgary – East Calgary Waste Management Facility
- City of St. Albert – Storm Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation
- City of Lethbridge – Helen Schuler Nature Centre Expansion and Rehabilitation
- Strathcona County – Ardrossan Wastewater to Regional Plant (new Force Main-pipeline)
- Town of Manning – Treated Water Tower Reservoir/Pumphouse Upgrade
- Eligible investment categories under this Fund include: drinking water; wastewater and solid waste; public transit; community energy systems; local roads and bridges; capacity building; disaster mitigation; broadband connectivity; brownfield redevelopment; regional and local airports; and projects supporting culture, tourism, sport and recreation.
[*]NOTE: GTF funding by jurisdiction for the first five years (2014-2019) is based on 2011 Census data. GTF funding for 2019-2024 will be based on 2016 Census data. For illustrative purposes, Census 2011 data has been used for all 10 years. Due to the indexation of the GTF, funding for 2019-2024 is expected to be at least equal to GTF funding for the first five years.
Vincent Rabault
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
Fiona Wiseman
Assistant Communications Director
Alberta Municipal Affairs
780-916-6766
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Website: Infrastructure Canada
