Transfer of a portion of the federal Gas Tax Fund and a contribution from the Government of Quebec
LÉVIS, QC, Dec. 12, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse and Les Etchemins and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 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, and Dominique Vien, Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, on behalf of Robert Poëti, Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Montréal Region, are pleased to announce that the Société de transport de Lévis will receive $6,548,953 from the federal Gas Tax Fund and a contribution from the Government of Quebec.
The Société de transport de Lévis will use the financial assistance announced today to upgrade and acquire public transit infrastructure and equipment such as buses, garages and terminals, reserved bus lanes, park-and-ride lots and intelligent transportation systems.
The allocation of monies from the federal Gas Tax Fund and the Government of Quebec's contribution will provide transportation agencies and authorities with long-term, stable and predictable funding.
The federal Gas Tax Fund was extended and doubled to $2 billion per year, indexed at 2% annually and legislated as a permanent source of federal infrastructure funding for municipalities.
Over the next five years, transportation agencies and authorities in Quebec will receive $983.1 million for infrastructure and equipment improvements, with $485.5 million coming from the federal Gas Tax Fund and $497.6 million from the Government of Quebec's contribution.
Quebec's contribution consists of revenue generated from the higher registration fees levied on vehicles with heavy-duty engines and monies from the Fonds des réseaux de transport terrestre (FORT). This funding is in addition to investments planned by the Quebec government under various other public transit programs totalling $1.3 billion for 2014–2015.
Quick Facts
- The objective of the new federal Gas Tax Fund agreement between Canada and Quebec is to provide funding for the renewal of municipal and local infrastructure with a view to sustainable development.
- The Government of Canada will provide the Quebec government with nearly $2.4 billion for infrastructure renewal under the federal Gas Tax Fund over a five-year period, including $485.5 million for public transit infrastructure and equipment.
- The Quebec government will allocate nearly $1.3 billion in funding over a five-year period, including nearly $497.6 million for public transit infrastructure and equipment.
- The funding from the federal Gas Tax Fund, together with a portion of Quebec's contribution, will be administered by the Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL).
Quotes
"The federal Gas Tax fund supports economic growth from coast to coast and will help ensure the quality of life in Canadian communities remains among the best in the world. Our government is proud to be providing public transportation agencies with predictable, long-term funding to help them build and revitalize their infrastructure while creating jobs and fostering long-term prosperity."
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse and Les Etchemins and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minster of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
"The future of public transit depends first and foremost on maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure and equipment. With a view to sustainable mobility, we are investing today to ensure benefits for tomorrow; we are contributing to a more mobile population while reducing traffic congestion and its associated effects."
Dominique Vien, Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, on behalf of Robert Poëti, Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Montréal Region
Related Links
To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html
To view the new Gas Tax Fund Administrative Agreement between Canada and Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/agreements-ententes/gtf-fte/2014-qc-eng.html
For more information on Quebec's public transit financial assistance program (Programme d'aide aux immobilisations en transport en commun) of the Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL): http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/partenairesprives/entreprisesservicestransportroutier/programmes-aide/Pages/Transport-collectif-personnes-SOFIL.aspx
SOURCE: Cabinet du ministre des Transports
Vincent Rabault, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development, Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, 613-943-1838; Cynthia St-Hilaire, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, 418-528-8063; Anne-Catherine Couture, Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region, 514-873-3444; Communications Directorate, Quebec Department of Transport, Quebec City: 418-644-4444, Montreal: 514-873-5600, Toll-free: 1-866-341-5724; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Web site: Infrastructure Canada
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