Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig is encouraged by the federal government’s renewed commitment to spend $120 billion over the next 10 years on infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking at the recent convention for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) in Winnipeg, stated the federal government would provide half the money required for the projects, as long as they meet the federal government’s criteria.
The provincial government would be responsible for a third of the funding, and municipalities would supply the remaining one-sixth of the cost, which is less than 17 per cent.
Currently, the federal, provincial and municipal governments each pay for a third of the costs.
“We are hoping that the provincial government will maintain their 33 and a third per cent, and if they do, of course that’s a big bonus for the municipalities,” said Ludwig. “But we still haven’t heard what they’re coming out with.”
If the provincial government won’t continue to fund one-third of a project’s cost, then the municipalities will be responsible for a greater share.
Ludwig noted all municipalities will be eligible for the funding, but the projects will have to fall under the categories of green, social or public transit.
Green projects would include those that provide for cleaner water and improved waste water treatment facilities. Social infrastructure would include affordable housing, early learning centres and child-care facilities. Public transit money would be for buses, light rail and other systems.
The city has two current projects that could benefit from the Infrastructure Canada funding. One would be to shift the city’s water supply from Boundary Dam to the larger Rafferty Dam.
“It would be better for us, because we wouldn’t have to treat it as much,” said Ludwig.
The other project would be the enhancements at the waste water treatment plant, which would allow the facility to keep pace with changing regulations.
Ludwig was joined by Councillors Greg Hoffort and Kevin Smith, and city manager/acting city treasurer Jeff Ward at the FCM convention. Ludwig said it was a good opportunity to share problems and discuss possible solutions with other municipalities.
Representatives from the city also attended workshops, with many of those sessions offering ideas on how to get the best value for the taxpayers’ money.
