Infrastructure Funding Update

During the recent Municipal Infrastructure Conference we proudly and very ably hosted we learned a few things about funding for infrastructure.

Various funding levels have been discussed and publicized by the federal government.

• Community Improvement Fund 
• $32.2 billion including both GST Rebates and indexed Gas Tax Fund
• These are not new monies.
• New Building Canada Fund
• $14 billion in support of major economic infrastructure projects with national, regional, and local significance
• $4 billion is designated for nationally significant projects
• $9 billion is for municipalities with a population over 100,000
• $1 billion is for municipalities with a population less than 100,000
• 53% of Canada's population live in a municipality with more than 100,000
• 53 communities have populations with more than 100,000 (Wikipedia 04/19/14)
• Canada, according to Stats Can has 11,200 municipalities
• The net result is a highly competitive environment in which municipalities are competing against one another to have their water treatment plants and sewage lagoons funded.
• Access to this fund is conditional on the project being delivered as a P3 (Public Private Partnership)
• Renewed P3 Canada Fund
• This is for projects with a minimum value of $100 million 
• Province of Saskatchewan
• Commitment to match funding of federal programs
• The province has no plan at this time
• Through the WCMGC we have a resolution sent to the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure requesting the development of an infrastructure development program including funding.

I believe that the infrastructure challenges we face in Kindersley, across Saskatchewan, and across Canada are manageable. However, it requires political will including a willingness on the part of my neighbours and friends to invest in infrastructure. The current funding available is inadequate and if not addressed will lead to the infrastructure challenges becoming much more difficult to manage.