News Releases

Northwest Territories Communities Complete Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (En Français)

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (May 18, 2010) — The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, along with the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), and Yellowknife Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, President of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC), are pleased to announce that all 33 communities across the Northwest Territories (NWT) have completed their Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSP) as part of the Canada-Northwest Territories Gas Tax Fund Agreement.

“Our Government remains committed to helping the Northern economy and investing in regional infrastructure,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding that can help communities build the infrastructure they need to improve their sustainability. These ICSPs will make a difference in how communities plan their infrastructure needs for the future.”

Under the Canada-Northwest Territories Gas Tax Fund Agreement, each community had to develop an ICSP by March 31, 2010. ICSPs provide communities with a framework under which community development plans are formalized and adopted, taking into account the economic, environmental, social, cultural, and governance implications.

“The Gas Tax Fund is an initiative that supports environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure and benefits communities by providing predictable funding to increase the capacity of communities to undertake long-term planning,” added Minister McLeod. “Every community in the NWT having an ICSP is a big step towards our Government’s goal of creating sustainable, vibrant communities.”

“With the first phase of planning complete, all communities must now take ownership of their own roadmaps to sustainability,” says Mayor Van Tighem. “The NWTAC continues to assist communities in maintaining and strengthening their plans and is well positioned to work with all stakeholders in advancing their implementation over the coming months.”

The Gas Tax Fund Agreement provides a total of $97.5 million in funding to NWT communities over a nine-year period from 2005-2006 through to 2013-2014.

Since 2005, NWT communities have used $12.2 million of Gas Tax funding. This has resulted in:

58.64 km of community roads upgraded to reduce dust;
148,600 kwh/year of energy consumption reduced;
51,285 litres of fuel consumption reduced among community service vehicles;
287,956 metres cubed of additional water distributed;
5,028 meters cubed of additional wastewater treated;
132.2 meters of culverts installed in the Hamlet of Aklavik to assist with flood mitigation,
An additional 38,904 tonnes of capacity added to solid waste sites, including an additional 150 tonnes diverted, per year, from solid waste sites; and
Over $1.19 million invested in community capacity building.

In 2009, the Government of Canada doubled the Gas Tax Fund and is now providing $2 billion annually to communities across Canada. And, for the second consecutive year, the Government of Canada is accelerating its payment of Gas Tax Fund three months early. This is part of the Government’s Economic Action Plan which aims to boost employment and help communities emerge stronger than ever from the economic downturn. In April, the Northwest Territories received an advance payment of $7.5 million in Gas Tax Funding, which will help their communities make the most of the spring and summer construction seasons.

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 more information, contact:

Rebecca Alty
Communications Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
867-920-3092

James Kusie
Office of Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Gordon Ross
Communications and Policy Coordinator
NWT Association of Communities
867-873-8359