Six New Brunswick Municipalities to Receive Gas-Tax Payment for Green Infrastructure

Oromocto, New Brunswick, July 21, 2008 - The Towns of Nackawic and Oromocto, as well as the Villages of Gagetown, Harvey, Stanley and Tracy, will make essential improvements to local infrastructure after receiving their first payments under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund.

These New Brunswick municipalities’ first payments from the Gas Tax Fund (GTF) will total $976,223.

These funds will be used by municipalities for environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects such as water systems; wastewater treatment; community-energy systems; as well as local roads and bridges.

The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Greg Byrne, Minister of Business New Brunswick, on behalf of the Honourable Carmel Robichaud, Minister of Local Government, made the announcement today.

"The Gas Tax Fund is helping to improve the environment and strengthen the prosperity of communities in New Brunswick and across Canada," said Minister Thompson. "Budget 2008 announced that the Gas Tax Fund will become permanent beyond 2014 at $2 billion per year, and New Brunswickers can expect nothing less than a bright future in terms of safe and modern local infrastructure."

"Today’s announcement is assisting these six municipalities with their local infrastructure", said Minister Byrne. "Our government strongly believes in the importance of renewing and improving community infrastructure throughout New Brunswick as we progress on the road to self-sufficiency. We are committed to keep strengthening our relationships with our municipal and federal partners to ensure that safe and adequate municipal infrastructure is available to all New Brunswickers."

The Province of New Brunswick will receive $116.1 million from the GTF from 2005 to 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $30 million. A further $178.5 million in federal GTF investments will flow to the Province of New Brunswick from 2010 to 2014, for a total of $294.6 million in federal funding over nine years.

To receive its first payment under the GTF, each municipality submitted a five-year Capital Investment Plan for review by the province, and signed an agreement with the New Brunswick Department of Local Government to implement the plan.

Investment collaboration with provinces and municipalities is a key feature of the federal approach to infrastructure.

The GTF is a key component of the Government’s $33-billion Building Canada Plan.

In December 2007, the governments of Canada and New Brunswick announced the signing of the Building Canada Framework Agreement. With this agreement, the Government of Canada committed to invest more than $541 million towards infrastructure needs in New Brunswick from 2007 to 2014. In addition, in Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced that the Gas Tax Fund will become permanent from 2014, at $2 billion per year. This will facilitate long-term infrastructure planning by municipalities.

• List of Projects
  

Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Daniel Lessard
Public Affairs Officer
Department of Local Government
Province of New Brunswick
506-444-4693

Infrastructure Canada
Communications
613-948-1148

List of Projects:

Harvey – First Payment of $28,447
The Village of Harvey will undertake projects under the capacity building, wastewater, and water categories.

Stanley – First Payment of $37,493
The Village of Stanley will undertake a replacement of pumping station project.

Tracy – First Payment of $48,985
The Village of Tracy will undertake projects under the local roads and bridges category.

Gagetown – First Payment of $55,588
The Village of Gagetown will undertake projects under the local roads and bridges category.

Nackawic – First Payment of $84,931
The Town of Nackawic will undertake projects under the water category.

Oromocto – First Payment of $720,779
The Town of Oromocto will undertake projects under capacity building, community energy systems, local roads and bridges and water categories.

Total: $976,223