Note to Editors
Federal Budget -- HRM Comment
(Monday, March 22, 2004) -- Mayor Peter Kelly will be available for comment to the media regarding the federal budget once it has been delivered in the House of Commons.
Municipalities across Canada are calling for the federal budget to include a commitment to work with the provinces and territories to establish partnership agreements in 2004. These agreements would be aimed at providing cities and municipalities with five cents a litre from the existing federal fuel excise tax, or an equivalent mechanism, as a new net revenue source.
Mayor Kelly also wants the budget to detail how quickly the total $3 billion in existing infrastructure programs will be accelerated, and how much funding will be made available to municipalities in each year of the accelerated program, starting in 2004.
The Mayor will also be expecting the federal government to acknowledge that it will be introducing legislation to formalize the GST rebate to municipalities, retroactive to February 1, 2004.
When: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 (Tomorrow)
Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Media/Training Room, 1st Floor, City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax
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Contact:
John O'Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
Phone: (902) 490-6531
Cell: (902) 476-3802
