Quispamsis receives gas tax revenue

• Allocation of gas tax funds

QUISPAMSIS, New Brunswick, - The Town of Quispamsis is the first municipality to receive a payment under the Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund, the $146-million Canada-New Brunswick gas-tax revenue-sharing agreement.

Local Government Minister Rose-May Poirier and Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore delivered a payment of $336,390 today to Mayor Ron Maloney at Quispamsis Town Hall. Moore attended on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities. All 102 other municipalities will receive their respective first payments totalling $10,738,921 under the agreement.

"We are very pleased to pass along this important funding to municipalities," Poirier said. "Under this agreement, all municipalities will receive their fair share of the gas-tax revenue, and this will allow them to fund important infrastructure projects within their communities."

"Through Budget 2006, government has delivered $16.5 billion to infrastructure which confirmed the $5 billion Gas Tax Fund," Moore said. "This will contribute to the economic vitality of Canada's communities by helping to ensure that citizens have access to safe and reliable water systems, that goods can be transferred efficiently to markets, and that traffic congestion is reduced, contributing to an improved environment. I am pleased to be in Quispamsis, the first New Brunswick community to receive its gas tax funds, and to tell you that all New Brunswick communities will soon have their cheques."

"We are very pleased and proud to be the first municipality in New Brunswick to enter into an agreement with the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Gas Tax Transfer," Maloney said. "Our allocation has enabled us to proceed with constructing a municipal water tower to provide a safe and dependable water service for our residential and commercial properties. We are very grateful to be given the opportunity to move ahead with this significant project, which will improve the quality of life for all residents of the town and surrounding areas."

The town's allocation of the Gas Tax Fund will be used to construct the Millennium Drive water tower and associated distribution system. This will include the construction of an elevated water reservoir and associated distribution system. It will provide fire protection and increase water distribution to commercial, institutional and residential customers in the Market Street, Millennium Drive and Autumn Avenue areas, up to and including the Hampton Road. It will permit expansion in accordance with the town's Municipal Development Plan. The development will address environmental concerns.

Provincial officials are working on ensuring that all other payments are forwarded to the remaining municipalities as soon as possible.

The Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund was announced in November 2005. Gas tax funds will be invested in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. Eligible project categories include water, wastewater, community-energy systems, solid-waste management, public transit, capacity building, and active transportation including roads and bridges where it can be demonstrated that they will enhance environmental sustainability outcomes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A breakdown of the allocation of gas tax funds follows.

For further information contact:

Diane Gauthier
Communications
Local Government
506-444-4693

Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities
(613) 991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
Communications Directorate
(613) 948-1148