Features Investments Roads & Paving
Federal GTF supported 309 projects in Saskatchewan in 2016

January 6, 2017 – Based on project planning in 2016, the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) supported 309 local roads and bridges projects in Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities last year.

“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 Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale, on behalf of the Honourable 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.

“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,” said Ray Orb, president of SARM, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. “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 Government of Canada 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. 

For example, the Rural Municipality of Usborne No. 310 plans to resurface 22 kilometres of PG 668, which connects three communities, two potash mines and a large aggregate reserve. The Rural Municipality of Waverley No. 44 intends to replace two small bridges with large culverts to provide safe, all-season access. Also, the Rural Municipality of Big Arm No. 251 plans to replace Code Bridge with a single-span 12-metre bridge to avoid future road closures due to flooding and to provide an efficient and reliable transportation route for the movement of grain, livestock and other agricultural goods. 

”The Government of Saskatchewan supports projects that invest in the local roads and bridges in our rural municipalities,” said Minister of Government Relations Donna Harpauer. “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.”