Moose Jaw gets double funding through the federal Gas Tax Fund

The City of Moose Jaw is receiving an extra $2,116,226 through the federal Gas Tax Fund for infrastructure projects, as part of the federal government’s overall doubling of the fund.

The Gas Tax Fund delivers more than $2 billion annually to more than 3,600 communities across Canada, with more than 4,000 projects supported every year, according to a government news release. To help address the short-term infrastructure priorities of communities, the federal government’s 2019 budget includes a top-up of $2.2 billion to the Gas Tax Fund.

Saskatchewan has already received the first of two $31.2 million federal Gas Tax Fund installments for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Besides these regular installments, Saskatchewan communities will benefit this year from a top-up — or doubling — of $61.9 million to their funding, the news release continued. This will accelerate progress and maximize every opportunity to ensure Canadians in every community across Canada see real and timely results in the renewal of public infrastructure.

The Gas Tax Fund provides Saskatchewan with more than $124 million this fiscal year for infrastructure projects. Moose Jaw-area communities

The following list shows the allocation of money that area communities received in the 2019-20 fiscal year, along with the Budget 2019 top-up:

• Assiniboia: $143,016/$153,785

• Avonlea: $23,187/$25,323

• Bethune: $23,541/$25,440

• Central Butte: $21,948/$23,214

• Gravelbourg: $63,897/$70,978

• R.M. of Gravelbourg: $21,948/$19,462

• Holdfast: $14,573/$10,748

• Moose Jaw: $1,999,510/$2,116,226

• R.M. of Moose Jaw: $68,617/$72,949

• Mortlach: $15,399/$18,380

• Riverhurst: $7,670/$7,250

• Rouleau: $31,860/$28,811

• Willow Bunch: $16,048/$18,190

• R.M. of Willow Bunch: $18,054/$22,960 The federal Gas Tax Fund is flexible in allowing communities to apply funding to their most pressing local needs, the news release said. Communities can invest across 18 project categories, including sports infrastructure, roads and wastewater. The funds can be used immediately, banked for later use, pooled with other communities for shared projects, or used to finance major infrastructure expenditures.

The Government of Canada intends to invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities.

To date, more than 48,000 projects have been approved under the plan, with the majority of these projects either underway or completed.