Supporting communities across Newfoundland and Labrador
News release
June 11, 2020 - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - Infrastructure Canada
The Government of Canada is taking decisive action to support communities and stabilize the economy across Canada, while first and foremost ensuring that the health and safety of all Canadians are protected during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna announced that Newfoundland and Labrador has received more than $31.5 million through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) for the 2020–21 fiscal year to fund its most pressing infrastructure needs.
The GTF provides communities with stable and flexible funding for their infrastructure priorities across a wide range of categories. For example, Springdale upgraded its storm sewer system to manage runoff and prevent flooding. Children in Mount Pearl will benefit from 39 new pieces of playground equipment in 32 locations across the City, providing safe and inclusive spaces for families and children to play. Meanwhile, Clarke’s Beach resident will benefit the addition of tourists visiting the new community park and garden overlooking the ocean along Conception Bay Highway.
By enabling communities to plan for their current and future needs, and build or improve the infrastructure that will help them thrive through any circumstance, the GTF is a critical tool that will help ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador remains among the best places in the world to live for generations to come.
The Government of Canada will be announcing new measures in the coming weeks and months to help Canadian communities get back on their feet and make them even more resilient in the future.
Quotes
“Our Government is making immediate investments in infrastructure that will play a vital role in helping municipalities, Inuit Community Governments and First Nations communities revive their economies, and will improve the lives of Canadians. As a first step, we are accelerating this year’s payment through the federal Gas Tax Fund. This will put more than $31.5 million in the hands of communities to improve local infrastructure like wastewater systems, playgrounds and tourism sites.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
“We are ensuring all communities in Newfoundland and Labrador are supported during this time. Receiving the full amount of the Gas Tax Fund upfront this year for approved infrastructure projects will benefit residents of municipalities and Inuit Community Governments. These projects represent important investments in our communities to strengthen services and build infrastructure as we all learn to live with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future.”
The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment
Quick facts
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The federal Gas Tax Fund is a long-term indexed source of funding for over 3,600 communities across the country. In recent years it has supported thousands of projects annually.
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The federal Gas Tax Fund has 18 project eligibility categories, including capacity building, sport infrastructure and roads. Communities can use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank them for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects, or use them to finance major infrastructure expenditures.
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Contacts
Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-949-1759
chantalle.aubertin@canada.ca
Lynn Robinson
Media Relations
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-691-9466
Lynnrobinson@gov.nl.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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