Federal tax funding announced for local municipalities

August 12, 2016

By Sarah Sobanski

Hastings County and Lennox and Addington County will receive close to $2.5 million for infrastructure development.

The first instalment of the Government of Canada’s Federal Gas Tax Fund was released Aug. 4. It’s allocating over $7.7 million to municipalities across Ontario. That’s $126,720 to Hastings Highlands, $117, 964 to Bancroft, $76,981 to Addington Highlands, $44,632 to Faraday, $27,525 to Carlow, $21,525 to Wollaston, $17,816 to Tudor and Cashel and $10,702 to Limerick.

“The Federal Gas Tax funding has afforded the Town of Bancroft the ability to re-invest in our infrastructure,” said Bancroft Mayor Bernice Jenkins. “As a result, we have created jobs, economic advancement, and provided improved quality of life for our residents.”

Jenkins suggested that the tax has been put towards municipal road surfaces, water and wastewater, sustaining property values, and to save town infrastructure.

“The Federal Gas Tax Fund is a critical component for any long term planning, particularly in small rural municipalities. Without this form of predictable funding, many of us do not have the tax base or borrowing capacity to reinvest in critically needed infrastructure repairs such as deteriorating roads and bridges,” said Hastings Highlands Mayor Vivian Bloom.

The gas tax fund provides more that $2 billion each year to Ontario municipalities.

“I’m really happy to see the gas tax fund [is] being sent to our local communities to address their priorities,” commented MP for Hastings—Lennox and Addington Mike Bossio. “Public investments in areas like infrastructure are crucial to drive economic growth, strengthen the middle class, and build the foundation for an inclusive society.”