News Releases
Northwest Territories Infrastructure Funding Extended to 2014
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, April 7, 2009 – Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, along with the Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of Transportation, announced today that communities across the Northwest Territories can now better plan for their long-term infrastructure needs thanks to a $60 million extension of the Canada-Northwest Territories Gas Tax Fund agreement from 2010 and 2014. They were joined today by Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem, President of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities.
“Our Government is committed to helping the Northern economy grow,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “By investing in regional infrastructure, we are creating jobs and building Northern communities.”
In the Northwest Territories, the Gas Tax Fund supports environmentally sustainable infrastructure, such as water, wastewater, solid waste, community energy systems and active transportation infrastructure improvements. Funding is also available for communities to enhance their capacity to plan for long-term sustainability. From 2005 to 2014, Northwest Territories communities will receive $97.5 million through the Gas Tax Fund. The Gas Tax Fund will become permanent in 2014.
“The Gas Tax Agreement received support from community governments and the Northwest Territories Association of Communities as being the preferred model for the delivery of federal infrastructure programs in the NWT,” added Minister Michael McLeod, on behalf of Minister Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. “As a result of the Agreement, communities are undertaking long-term planning through the development of their Integrated Community Sustainability Plans and investing in priority infrastructure.”
“Extension of the Gas Tax Agreement is an investment in NWT communities,” said Gordon Van Tighem, President of the NWT Association of Communities. “Thanks to predictable, long-term funding, we can revitalize our communities with critical infrastructure that contributes to a prosperous future. We are grateful to the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories for this commitment.”
In addition to extending the Gas Tax payment for four years, the Government of Canada is doubling the annual funding that the Northwest Territories receives through the Gas Tax Fund and making the funding available to municipalities almost three months early. This means the Gas Tax payment has increased in the Northwest Territories from $7.5 million to $15 million per year.
The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working closely with the federal government and the NWT Association of Communities to ensure that these infrastructure funds are being spent well on priorities in these communities.
For more information about the federal Gas Tax Fund, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
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For further information contact:
Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Rebecca Alty
Communications Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
867-920-3092
Earl Blacklock
Manager of Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Transportation
867-873-7712
867-445-3494 (cell)