Municipalities to receive double Gas Tax funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03 APRIL 2009

OTTAWA – Families, farmers and workers in Battlefords-Lloydminster will see faster improvements to roads, bridges, public transit and other infrastructure thanks to a doubling of the Gas Tax transfers to municipalities, says Member of Parliament, Hon. Gerry Ritz.

“Our government’s Economic Action Plan includes doubling the annual allotment that a municipality receives from the gas tax fund. For communities in my riding alone, the payments are increasing to a total of almost $4 million, up from just under $2 million last year,” said Ritz.

In addition to twice as much funding, the money is being made available to municipalities almost three months early.
“This early investment will help create jobs, support local businesses and improve the quality of life for families, especially during these tough economic times,” said Ritz.

The federal Gas Tax transfers to the provinces and municipalities will allow them to move forward quickly on infrastructure projects.

“This is further proof that our government has an ongoing commitment to create jobs and grow the economy through investments in modern public infrastructure,” said Ritz.

The first payment to municipalities will be paid this month. Nationally, a total of $2 billion in Gas Tax transfers will be delivered this year.

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For more information call Gerry Ritz at 613-995-7080