Based on project planning in 2016, the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) supported 309 local road and bridge projects in Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities.
“SARM is very appreciative of the Gas Tax Fund which is a predictable and dependable source of funding that the federal government has made available to Saskatchewan rural municipalities,” SARM President Ray Orb said.
“Rural municipalities take the opportunity to use their GTF allocations to complete various infrastructure projects and SARM is still very hopeful that the current rural infrastructure funding gaps will be addressed in Phase 2 of the New Building Canada Fund.”
The projects in RMs in the southeast region include the following.
In the RM of Brokenshell, they replaced three bridges with culverts, with the Gas Tax Fund providing $90,983 of the total cost of $331,018.
The RM of Cambria upgraded grid road 606 at a cost of $390,000, and the GTF provided $89,802. The RM of Cymri paved 6.85 km of grid road 702, which cost $3.2 million. The GTF provided $154,790 towards this project.
A bridge was replaced in the RM of Francis at a cost of $190,000, with the GTF paying for all of the costs. In Golden West, the RM reconstructed 5.6 km of road at a cost of $677,327, and the GTF provided $103,538.
The RM of Griffin installed a culvert, with entire cost of $1,500 covered by the GTF, and in Key West, road reconstruction cost $150,000, with the GTF covering $112,856 of the amount.
The RM of Lomond replaced a bridge over Long Creek, a project that cost $975,000. The GTF kicked in $89,802. In the RM of Norton, a bridge was replaced by two culverts, and the entire cost of $53,035 was covered by the GTF.
The RM of Scott had three projects, all upgrades to bridges in the municipality, at costs of $46,000, $79,900 and $37,700. The GTF provided grants of $4,998, $41,483 and $5,509 respectively.
The RM of Souris Valley replaced the Long Creek bridge at a cost of $730,000, and received $70,896 from the GTF. The RM of Surprise Valley constructed 3.2 km of road at a cost of $160,000, and they received $74,145 from the Gas Tax Fund.
The RM of Tecumseh reconstructed 1.4 km of road at a cost of $200,000, and received $79,758 from the GTF.
The RM of Wellington replaced two culverts, and the project cost of $23,200 was covered by the GTF. In the RM of Weyburn, there were two projects, including widening the 22nd Avenue turnoff, and upgrading the Golf Course Road bridge. The turnoff cost $29,004, and the Golf Course bridge cost$183,000, with both projects covered by the GTF.
“The Government of Saskatchewan supports projects that invest in the local roads and bridges in our rural municipalities,” Government Relations Minister Donna Harpauer said. “A safe and efficient transportation system is the foundation of our province’s infrastructure that keeps Saskatchewan strong and makes life better for our citizens.”
“We need smart investments in safe and modern transportation infrastructure to support trade and create good, well-paying jobs that help the middle class prosper,” said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
“Over a decade ago, as Finance Minister, I created the federal Gas Tax Fund to provide municipal governments with a new and substantial revenue stream to upgrade local infrastructure. It recognizes the importance of local decision-making, allowing Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities to direct federal dollars to their priorities across a wide range of project categories, including local roads and bridges, making a real difference in people’s lives.”
The federal GTF provides Canadian municipalities with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term funding.
It offers local communities the flexibility to make strategic investments across 18 different project categories, including roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities.
The federal government will be providing Saskatchewan with more than $59.1 million for community infrastructure through the federal GTF in 2016-17.
This is in addition to funds made available to Saskatchewan under other existing programs and two new federal funding programs: the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.
