ine New Brunswick communities benefit from gas tax funding (09/09/09)

September 09, 2009

HARTLAND - The federal and provincial governments are investing $2.7 million in projects in the Town of Hartland and eight other New Brunswick communities to assist with local infrastructure priorities. Local Government Minister Bernard Leblanc and Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen made the announcement today in Hartland.

"The New Brunswick government strongly believes in the importance of renewing and improving community infrastructure throughout New Brunswick as we progress on the road to self-sufficiency," said LeBlanc. "Today's infrastructure investments are important to ensuring that communities continue to be places where people can live in a healthy, clean and safe environment."

The Government of Canada is providing up to $2.4 million for eligible projects from its Gas Tax Fund (GTF) and the provincial government is providing approximately $328,000. Remaining project costs will be covered by municipal contributions.

"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting infrastructure projects that encourage economic growth, create jobs and improve our environment," said Allen. "The GTF supports projects that make municipal infrastructure more environmentally sustainable, which contributes to cleaner air, cleaner water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions."

The Government of Canada has extended the GTF beyond 2014, at $2 billion per year. This fund complements the $12 billion in additional infrastructure funding in Canada's Economic Action Plan, which is accelerating and expanding existing federal investments in infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years.
Canada and New Brunswick are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure. Both governments have agreed to work together to ensure that these funds are delivered quickly and efficiently so that construction can begin as soon as possible.


Gas Tax Fund in New Brunswick

The Gas Tax Fund (GTF) provides predictable, stable, long-term funding, increasing the capacity of communities to undertake the long-term financial commitments needed to address local priorities.

Eligible categories of investment under the GTF include public transit, water and waste water infrastructure, community energy systems, the management of solid waste, and local roads and bridges.

Today's funding announcement is for projects in nine communities at an estimated cost of about $2.7 million. The Government of Canada is providing up to $2.4 million for these projects, while the provincial government is providing about $328,000. The remaining project costs will be covered by municipal contributions.
The Town of Hartland is receiving $146,050 in GTF funding between 2005 and 2010 for sidewalk repairs, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $37,751 for a total of $183,801.

GTF funding for projects in eight other New Brunswick communities is as follows:

• For a completed project in the Birchwood Estates subdivision of the local service district of Hanwell, the federal government provided $1.1 million toward the improved water distribution and waste water collection system.
• The Village of Cambridge-Narrows is receiving $105,894 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $27,373, for a total of $133,267 for energy retrofits to the municipal building and the library.
• The Village of Canterbury is receiving $64,606 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $16,700, for a total of $81,306 to expand the sidewalk network and improve the energy efficiency of the community centre.
• The Town of Florenceville-Bristol is receiving $239,800 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $61,985, for a total of $301,785 to restore and extend storm sewers, perform drainage work along a portion of the NB Trail, and undertake a sewer collection system study.
• The Village of Fredericton Junction is receiving $112,046 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $28,954, for a total of $141,000 to undertake road upgrades.
• The Village of Meductic is receiving $30,601 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $7,910, for a total of $38,511 for energy efficiency upgrades to the community centre, as well as some road work.
• The Village of Perth-Andover is receiving $308,939 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $79,857, for a total of $388,796 to install a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor the water and waste water systems, as well as to undertake energy retrofit improvements to some municipal buildings.
• The rural community of Saint-André is receiving $261,969 between 2005 and 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $67,715, for a total of $329,684 to undertake improvements to the water and waste water systems.