News Release
New infrastructure funding to create jobs, growth and prosperity
Regional Transit Service gets new wheels thanks to Canada’s Gas Tax Fund
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) commuters are now benefitting from improved transit service, thanks to a $13.6-million investment from the Government of Canada through the Gas Tax Fund.
Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, along with His Worship Mike Savage, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, today announced that Metro Transit recently added 22 new environmentally-friendly buses to its existing fleet.
“Investments in Canada’s public infrastructure create jobs, economic growth and provide a high quality of life for families in every city and community across the country,” said MP Kerr. “Our Government is delivering the largest investment in infrastructure in Canadian history, and these new Metro Transit buses will provide a safer, cleaner and more efficient commute for HRM residents.”
This investment will increase service and allow older buses to be retired. As a result, it will also help reduce diesel emissions, meaning a cleaner, quieter transit fleet and improved air quality for local residents, now and for years to come.
“The assurance of long-range funding for gas tax transfers along with the indexing of two percent per year will help Halifax make strategic investments to improve and modernize the transit system and continue to narrow the infrastructure funding gap,” said Mayor Savage. “As we plan for a growing economy and a growing community, smart multi-level government investments in transit and other infrastructure are critically important.”
“I am pleased to see the Halifax Regional Municipality investing in their transit system to improve service to citizens,” said John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. “These partnerships with the federal and municipal levels of government allow us to build strong, healthy communities and make life better for Nova Scotia families.”
The Halifax Regional Municipality directed $13.6 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation towards the purchase of the additional buses and provided the remaining project costs of $2.5 million. The total project cost is estimated at $16.1 million.
The Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to help every municipality across the country build and revitalize public infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this Fund alone, which is now a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. Between 2010 and 2014, the Halifax Regional Municipality will receive $99.2 million from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a new Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada’s leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 950,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The new Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada’s infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Susan Mader Zinck
Communications Advisor
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
902-722-1461
E-mail: madersd@gov.ns.ca
Mayor Mike Savage
Halifax Regional Municipality
902-490-4010
