More Than $39M Allocated Towards Road and Bridge Improvements Across Saskatchewan

PRINCE ALBERT, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - May 22, 2015) -

Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, was joined today by Nadine Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan Rivers and Norma Sheldon, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert No. 461 (RM of Prince Albert) to celebrate the smooth and safe ride residents are enjoying on local roads thanks to funding provided through the federal Gas Tax Fund.

Ben Buhler, a Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association board member, and Judy Harwood, a Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Division 5 Director, also participated in the event.

The Gas Tax Fund is a flexible program that allows communities to choose and plan infrastructure projects based on their specific priorities. Funding is provided twice per year and municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, providing significant financial flexibility. These projects improve the local quality of life and produce jobs, which contributes to the economy.

In the RM of Prince Albert, the redevelopment of Gerrond and Russtan Roads are receiving support from the Gas Tax Fund.

Elsewhere in Saskatchewan, the local roads and bridges projects range from street reconstruction and sidewalk upgrades to the replacement of culverts and rural road and bridge improvements. Some projects were necessary due to the risk of flooding, others because the existing roads were not strong enough to handle heavy truck traffic and agricultural vehicles.

Quick Facts

• During 2014, 125 communities across Saskatchewan allocated over $39 million through the federal Gas Tax Fund to 157 road and bridge projects.
• Between 2014 and 2024, the Government of Canada will provide over $56 million in annual funding for municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• Combined with investments under other federal infrastructure programs, Saskatchewan has benefited from over $1.1 billion in federal funding toward infrastructure improvements since 2006.

Quotes

"Our Government understands the positive impact that quality infrastructure has on economic growth, job creation and long-term prosperity. These federal Gas Tax Fund contributions not only help to ensure safe and smooth travel throughout Saskatchewan, they ensure the province's roads and bridges are able to support the traffic that sustains its growing economy, now, and in the coming years."

Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the importance of investing in municipal infrastructure in a growing province. We acknowledge the Government of Canada for providing infrastructure funding through the federal Gas Tax Fund, which supports municipalities in addressing their infrastructure needs, including the RM of Prince Albert's road rehabilitation projects."

Nadine Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatchewan Rivers

"I am pleased to say that the RM of Prince Albert, through the support of the federal government's Gas Tax Fund, has begun improvements to Gerrond Road, and are planning improvements to Russtan Road in the future. The RM is committed to enhancing its critical infrastructure and these investments will make our rural municipality an even better place to live and make a living."

Norma Sheldon, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert No. 461

"SUMA is grateful for the predictable dollars to support improvements to our roads and bridges. This kind of funding helps us to provide residents of Saskatchewan's cities, towns, and villages with the infrastructure they expect and deserve."

Debra Button, President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association

"The Gas Tax Fund benefits rural municipalities by providing funding for municipal infrastructure projects that benefit both residents and the economy. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is pleased to see that all of these projects were made possible thanks to the Gas Tax Fund."

Ray Orb, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Related Products

Read the backgrounder about the communities that are allocating funds toward local road and bridge improvements.

Associated Links

To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.