Annual Federal Gas Tax Fund helps fund infrastructure projects in Niagara Centre

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Photo: Can Stock Photo/CSPGuy

Written by Ontario Construction News staff writer

Niagara Centre is taking advantage of federal funding through the Municipal Gas Tax Fund (GTF), to move projects in the region forward.

The federal government has announced it will double the investment in municipalities by offering a top-up to the GTF, to support infrastructure projects across Ontario.

These top-ups are leading to large investments in Niagara Centre, as follows:

  • Welland—original investment $1.6 million; after top up $3.2 million
  • Port Colborne—$586,822; after top up $1,173.644
  • Thorold—$571,119; after top up $1,142,238
  • St. Catherines—$4.2 million; after top-up $8.4 million

For the whole region, this amounts to an investment of $27.4 million.

“This flexible and long-term infrastructure funding will greatly benefit the towns and cities of Niagara Centre. Investments under the federal Gas Tax Fund help stimulate economic growth and make our community more environmentally sustainable,” said Vance Badawey, MP for Niagara Centre.

Badawey said in an August 15 press release that the money is intended to help municipalities, after a bilateral agreement with the provincial government fell through, leaving local governments without funding for much-needed infrastructure. To make up for the lack of provincial investment federal Budget 2019 included the $2.2 billion top-up, nation-wide.

“Our local partners needed a mechanism to get projects out the door in time for the 2019 constructions season. We needed to, once again, step up to the plate and lead by example,” Badawey said.

The GTF delivers more than $2 billion to municipalities helping to support 4,000 projects across the country each year.

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