Building stronger communities across the Northwest Territories with the federal Gas Tax Fund

Doubling of the federal Gas Tax Fund delivers a boost in the Northwest Territories for 33 communities

YELLOWKNIFE, Aug. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - Modern public infrastructure is key to promoting economic growth and developing healthy, sustainable communities. That is why the Government of Canada is renewing its commitment to local governments and First Nations communities through the federal Gas Tax Fund and delivering much needed support for their local priorities. 

The Northwest Territories has received the first of two $8.25 million annual installments of the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF), along with a top-up of $16.5 million, made available through Budget 2019. This top-up doubles the amount of money for communities in the Northwest Territories, enabling them to carry out infrastructure projects that support the well-being of their residents.

The federal GTF is a long-term, indexed source of funding that allows communities to address their most pressing needs. In the Northwest Territories, many communities use their federal GTF funding for projects that complement water and wastewater infrastructure they've built with funding from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, like new sewage lagoons and enhancements to water treatment plants and sewage systems. Communities in the territory have also used federal GTF funding to upgrade recreational facilities, install energy systems and increase their fire resiliency.

This predictable funding, enhanced by a doubling of the 2018-19 GTF allocations, as announced in Budget 2019, is allowing local governments and First Nations communities to plan for current and future infrastructure priorities, so they can build the resilient infrastructure of the 21st century that residents deserve, and help ensure that the Northwest Territories remains among the best places in the world to live.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is proud to deliver this stable, predictable long-term funding that communities rely on to develop their public infrastructure. By working with other orders of government, we are making significant progress and delivering concrete results for all Canadians. From improving roads, water services and energy efficiency, to enhancing recreation and tourism centres, the federal Gas Tax Fund is helping keep families safe, promote economic development and improve people's quality of life across the country."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to continue its support of community governments, and to help build funding partnerships with the federal government in developing community infrastructure. This funding helps to support and encourage communities in their goals of safe, resilient and strategic community infrastructure planning. The GNWT looks forward to supporting communities in the implementation of their infrastructure priorities."

The Honourable Alfred Moses, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Government of the Northwest Territories

Quick Facts

• The federal Gas Tax Fund delivers over $2 billion every year to over 3,600 communities across the country. In recent years the funding has supported approximately 4,000 projects each year.
• To help address the short-term infrastructure priorities of municipalities, local governments and Indigenous communities, Budget 2019 includes a top-up of $2.2 billion to the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• The federal Gas Tax Fund is flexible in allowing communities to apply funding to their most pressing local needs. Communities can invest across 18 different project categories, including recreation, water systems and roads. They can also use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank them for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects, or use them to finance major infrastructure expenditures.
• Through its Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• The plan includes more than $92 billion for funding such as the Gas Tax Fund and more than $95 billion in new funding for infrastructure programs.
• To date, more than 48,000 projects have been approved under the plan and the majority of these projects are either underway, or already completed.

Related product

2019‒2020 federal Gas Tax Fund allocations in the Northwest Territories by community:

Backgrounder

Northwest Territories' 2019‒20 federal Gas Tax Fund allocations

The Government of Canada has delivered the first of two $8.25 million federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) installments to the Northwest Territories for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

In addition to the regular installments, communities in the Northwest Territories will benefit this year from a top-up to their funding, as announced in Budget 2019. This top-up will accelerate progress and maximize every opportunity to ensure that Canadians in every community across the country continue to see real and timely results in the renewal of public infrastructure.

The GTF will provide the Northwest Territories with a total of $33 million this fiscal year for local infrastructure projects.

The following table indicates the 2019-20 federal GTF allocation and Budget 2019 top-up amount for the Northwest Territories' communities.¹

Ultimate Recipient	Allocation 2019-20 ($)	Budget 2019 top-up ($)
Aklavik	333,000	333,000
Behchokǫ̀	682,000	682,000
Behdzi Ahda First Nation	80,000	80,000
Délı̨nę Got'ine Government	279,000	279,000
Enterprise	80,000	80,000
Fort Good Hope	306,000	306,000
Fort Liard	298,000	298,000
Fort McPherson	415,000	415,000
Fort Providence (Hamlet)	324,000	324,000
Fort Resolution	80,000	80,000
Fort Simpson	574,000	574,000
Fort Smith	913,000	913,000
Gamètì	80,000	80,000
Hay River	1,397,000	1,397,000
Inuvik	1,359,000	1,359,000
Jean Marie River First Nation	80,000	80,000
Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation	80,000	80,000
K'atlodeeche First Nation	80,000	80,000
Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation	225,000	225,000
Nahanni Butte Dene Band	80,000	80,000
Norman Wells	606,000	606,000
Paulatuk	221,000	221,000
Sachs Harbour	206,000	206,000
Sambaa K'e First Nation	80,000	80,000
Tsiigehtchic	80,000	80,000
Tuktoyaktuk	398,000	398,000
Tulita	274,000	274,000
Ulukhaktok	280,000	280,000
Wekweètì	178,000	178,000
Whatì	266,000	266,000
Pehdzeh First Nation	80,000	80,000
Yellowknife Dene First Nation	80,000	80,000
Yellowknife (city)	5,511,000	5,511,000

______________________________

¹Amounts exclude territorial administrative costs.

Associated links

Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/home-accueil-en.html

Investing in Canada, Canada's long-term infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in the Northwest Territories: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/nt-eng.html

The federal Gas Tax Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-697-3778, [email protected]; Jay Boast, Communications Planning Specialist, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Government of the Northwest Territories, 867-767-9162 ext. 21044, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [email protected]

Related Links

www.infrastructure.gc.ca