Every Nova Scotia municipality to benefit from federal Gas Tax Fund transfer 

News Release

First of two annual installments delivered to support local infrastructure priorities

July 25, 2017    Halifax, Nova Scotia     Infrastructure Canada

Modern and up-to-date community infrastructure helps connect people to jobs and provides access to better community services, attracts new businesses and creates economic growth.

This month, the Government of Canada delivered the first of two annual $27 million federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) installments to Nova Scotia. In total, the province will be provided over $55 million this year through the fund.  The funding, which flows through the provincial government to all of its municipalities, is now available to support community infrastructure projects.

Based on previous years, GTF funding supports approximately 180 local infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia each year.

Some examples of the projects being funded this year include the expansion of the boardwalk by the waterfront in the Town of Annapolis Royal. The Town of Bridgewater has plans to construct a new overhead pedestrian crosswalk system at Dufferin and Exhibition and the Regional Municipality of Halifax will improve and encourage active transportation through several new projects. The range of planned projects helps demonstrate the flexibility that the GTF provides.

The two Gas Tax Fund installments for this year are in addition to funds flowing to Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada plan.

Quotes

“The federal Gas Tax Fund allows communities to direct federal dollars to their particular infrastructure priorities across a wide range of project categories. Whether a community needs to expand their recreational centre, upgrade roads, enhance a wastewater treatment system or make energy-saving upgrades to municipal buildings, this funding offers predictable, reliable and flexible support that reflects the federal government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure that makes a real difference in people’s lives at the local level.”

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Reliable infrastructure is the foundation for building healthy, strong and vibrant communities. Municipal investments through the Government of Canada’s Gas Tax Fund will contribute to economic growth, job creation and productivity in Nova Scotia.”

Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Municipal Affairs

Quick Facts

  • Since the program was first introduced in 2005, over $588 million has been provided to Nova Scotia communities through the federal Gas Tax Fund.

  • The federal Gas Tax Fund makes over $2 billion available each year, and through it provides each community across Canada with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term funding. The funding is made available in two annual installments, in July and November.

  • The federal Gas Tax Fund offers significant flexibility. Local communities can make strategic investments across 18 different project categories, including roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities. Communities can use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank the funds for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects or use it to finance major infrastructure expenditures.

  • The Government of Canada is providing more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

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Contacts

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
Brook.Simpson@canada.ca

Brian Taylor
Media Relations Advisor
902-424-1750
Cell 902-220-1727
Brian.Taylor@novascotia.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
infc.media-medias.infc@canada.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

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