In my last column, I wrote about our Economic Action Plan and the positive things that international stakeholders are saying about it.  This week, I’d like to write about how our government’s actions are putting money into communities here in the Palliser riding.

Two years ago, our government announced the 7-year, $33 billion Building Canada Plan, which helps build and revitalize infrastructure across Canada. The Gas Tax Fund is the largest component of this plan and provides municipalities with funding for public transit, road building and maintenance, and other infrastructure projects.

Now, at a time when Canadian municipalities are feeling the effects of a global economic downturn, our government has accelerated the first Gas Tax payments by almost three months.  We have also doubled the amount of this fund, beginning April 1, to $2 billion for municipalities across our country.

For the City of Moose Jaw, for example, this amounts to $2,014,565 in available funding for 2009-2010. For the RM of Moose Jaw, this amounts to $87,025. All municipalities, both urban and rural, are eligible for this funding, which will be used to improve infrastructure in their communities.

Another program that is available to help municipalities leverage federal government dollars to get important infrastructure work done in their communities is the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component, which is funded jointly by the Province and the federal government.

I’d like to remind all municipal leaders that the final intake for applications for the $126 million remaining in this fund closes April 17 for projects that are ready to begin construction in 2009.  For projects that need more time to develop, applications will be accepted until May 15.

However, for municipalities to receive funding, either through the Gas Tax Fund or through the Building Canada Fund, they must apply. 

So I ask municipal leaders to contact the New Deal Secretariat at 306-787-8912 for information on how to apply for funding under the Gas Tax Program.  I ask these leaders to contact the BCF-CC Joint Secretariat at 306-787-2719 for information on how to apply for the Building Canada Fund. 

Finally, I ask all readers to contact their municipal leaders about important projects in their municipalities that can benefit from these programs.

Through our Government’s Economic Action Plan, an additional $12 billion is being invested across our country in roads, bridges, hockey arenas, wastewater treatment facilities, and other infrastructure projects designed to help kick-start our economy over the next two years.

I look forward to working closely with municipalities in the Palliser riding to ensure that projects in our communities continue to receive the benefits.