Gas Tax Funding Making a Difference for North-Eastern New Brunswick

Municipalities to improve road, water, wastewater infrastructure

• Backgrounder

Saint Simon, New Brunswick, October 23, 2009 — The Honourable Senator Percy Mockler, along with 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 the local service district of Saint Simon, and several other north-eastern New Brunswick communities, with a total investment of approximately $9.4 million in funding to assist with local infrastructure priorities.

“Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is committed to stimulating our economy through projects that will bring both immediate and long-term benefits for Canadians,” said Senator Mockler. “We are proud to partner with the province of New Brunswick to help municipalities meet their infrastructure needs. Investments in infrastructure initiatives such as water distribution, roadwork and upgrades to municipal buildings and services will create jobs and boost our economy.”

“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 up to $9.3 million for eligible projects in the region from its Gas Tax Fund with the provincial government providing approximately $127,612. Remaining project costs will be covered by municipal, private and other contributions. Funding will support projects in Saint Simon, Lamèque, Paquetville, Saint-Léolin, and Pont Landry, as well as a planning study for the construction of a 320-kilometre bike path through the Acadian Peninsula.

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.

By 2014, New Brunswick will have received a total of $294.6 million in Gas Tax Funds for infrastructure projects. Through this fund, 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.creatingjobs.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 (GTF) provides predictable, stable, long-term funding, increasing the capacity of communities to undertake the long-term financial commitments needed to address local priorities.

By 2014, New Brunswick will have received more than $294.6 million in federal support for infrastructure.

Today's announcement is for projects in several communities in north-eastern New Brunswick with a total joint federal and provincial contribution of approximately $9.4 million. The Government of Canada is providing nearly $9.3 million for these projects and the provincial government is providing $127,612. Remaining project costs will be covered by municipal, private and other contributions.

The federal government provided $5 million in Gas Tax funding support for the Route 155/Chemin Saint Simon water distribution project in the Local Service District of Saint Simon. In addition, the Town of Caraquet will contribute an existing water reservoir as a $1.5 million in-kind contribution.

Gas Tax funding for other projects is as follows:

• The Town of Lamèque is receiving $255,830, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $66,128, for a total of $321,958 to construct a new wastewater lift station; conduct energy retrofits to municipal buildings; and repair local roads
• The Village of Paquetville will receive $108,000, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $27,917, for a total joint federal and provincial contribution of $135,917; these funds, in addition to municipality's own contribution of $220,000, will be used for sidewalk and local road repair, as well as to conduct energy upgrades to the municipal building
• The Village of Saint-Léolin is receiving $129,859 to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $33,567 for a total joint federal and provincial contribution of $163,426; together with their own contribution of $20,000, the municipality will use these funds to cover the project costs of local road work
• The Local Service District of Pont Landry is receiving $3,820,000 for the Pont Landry Wastewater Collection System in the Pont Landry Local Service District in Tracadie-Sheila to which the Town of Tracadie-Sheila will add $450,000 for a total of $4,270,000
• $12,000 will be provided for a planning study regarding the construction of a bike path that will run through the Acadian Peninsula