Gas Tax Funding Making a Difference for New Brunswick

Nine municipalities to improve road, water, wastewater infrastructure

• Backgrounder

Allardville, New Brunswick, October 23, 2009 — The Honourable Senator Percy Mockler, and the Honourable Bernard LeBlanc, New Brunswick Minister of Local Government, today announced that the governments of Canada and New Brunswick are investing in projects located in Allardville and eight other New Brunswick communities, with a total investment of approximately $5.7 million in funding to assist with local infrastructure priorities.

“Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is pleased to partner with the province of New Brunswick to help municipalities meet the infrastructure needs of their communities,” said Senator Mockler. “Our government has delivered for municipalities by doubling the federal gas tax transfers allowing projects to start construction and create jobs faster than ever. Improvements to municipal buildings, water distribution facilities and upgrades to local roads will create healthy vibrant hometowns today and for the future.”

“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 Minister 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 more than $5.4 million for eligible projects in nine communities from its Gas Tax Fund with the provincial government providing $256,664. Remaining project costs will be covered by municipal, private and other contributions. Funding supports projects in Allardville, the Local Service District of Dalhousie Junction, the Village of Atholville, the Village of Belledune, the Village of Eel River Crossing, the Village of Lac Baker, the Village of Nigadoo, the community of Point La Nim, and the Village of Petit-Rocher.

Eligible categories of investment under the Gas Tax Fund include public transit, water and wastewater infrastructure, community energy systems, management of solid waste local roads and bridges, and capacity building.

New Brunswick will receive a total of $294.6 million in Gas Tax Fund funding for infrastructure projects by 2014. Through this, communities can invest in infrastructure projects that address local priorities and help to produce shared national outcomes.

The Government of Canada has extended the Gas Tax Fund beyond 2014 at $2 billion per year. As such, 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.

To learn more about the Building Canada Fund, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.

For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For further information contact:

Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Mark Barbour
Communications Officer
New Brunswick Department of Local Government
506-444-4693

Backgrounder
GAS TAX FUND IN NEW BRUNSWICK

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

New Brunswick will receive more than $294.6 million in federal support for infrastructure by 2014.

Today's announcement is for projects in nine communities with a total joint federal and provincial contribution of approximately $5.7 million. The Government of Canada is providing more than $5.4 million for these projects and the provincial government is providing $256,664. Remaining project costs will be covered by municipal, private and other contributions.

The federal government provided $2.1 million in Gas Tax funding support towards the completed upgrades and extension of the wastewater system in the Local Service District of Allardville, New Brunswick.

Gas Tax funding for projects in eight other communities are as follows:

• The Local Service District of Dalhousie Junction is receiving $450,000 to replace the existing sanitary treatment system with a new underground septic tank system; construction is scheduled to take place between August and October 2009
• The Village of Atholville is receiving $223,609, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $57,800 for a total of $281,409, to retrofit the water system and complete an infrastructure master plan
• The Village of Belledune is receiving $311,369, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $80,485 for a total of $391,854, for energy efficiency improvements to several municipal buildings, as well as the water and sewer systems
• The Village of Eel River Crossing is receiving $216,160, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $55,875 for a total of $272,035, to undertake local road upgrades, water and wastewater projects, and for energy efficiency improvements to the municipal building, as well as to complete a municipal infrastructure master plan
• The Village of Lac Baker is receiving $82,642, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $21,362 for a total of $104,004, for energy upgrades to the local municipal building and the replacement of two cesspools with septic tanks and leaching beds
• The Village of Nigadoo is receiving $159,166, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $41,142 for a total of $200,308, to improve local roads
• The community of Point La Nim is receiving $1.5 million for improvements to the water distribution system in the region
• The Village of Petit-Rocher is receiving $400,614 for a feasibility study for a 320-kilometre bike path.