Infrastructure Canada

GOVERNMENT OF NEW BRUNSWICK

QUISPAMSIS, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwire - Sept. 5, 2008) - Today, the governments of Canada and New Brunswick participated in a ceremony to mark the completion of construction of a municipal water tower and associated distribution system that will provide Quispamsis residents with safe water service.

This project was the first one to be announced under the Gas Tax Fund (GTF) in New Brunwick. Under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund, Quispamsis will receive $2,803,280 by year 2010. The Town of Quispamsis also contributed $50,000, for an estimated total project cost of $2,853,280.

Mr. Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy-Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Mary Schryer, Minister of Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Carmel Robichaud, Minister of Local Government, took part in the opening ceremony in Quispamsis.

"The completion of this new water tower marks an important milestone in the improvement of New Brunswick water infrastructure," said MP Moore. "Clean, safe drinking water will have a positive impact on the residents of Quispamsis and the environment. This is an example of our commitment to Canada's infrastructure."

"Today's milestone is a celebration for the Town of Quispamsis as it represents the completion of the first project being funded under the Gas Tax Fund in the province of New Brunswick," said Minister Schryer. "Renewing and maintaining community infrastructure is important for our government in order to attain self-sufficiency as a province. It is crucial to continue cooperating with our federal counterparts to enable New Brunswick municipalities like Quispamsis to respond to their infrastructure needs."

"The Town of Quispamsis is grateful for this funding received under the Federal/Provincial Gas Tax Fund," said Murray Driscoll, Mayor of Quispamsis. "Without this financial support, it would have been difficult for us to proceed with the construction of the water tower and distribution system, which were greatly needed."

Funding has been used to construct a 500,000 gallon elevated composite water storage reservoir on Millenium Drive, and install 1,250 linear meters of water distribution main. The new system will provide fire protection and increase water distribution to commercial, institutional and residential customers in the Market Street, Millennium Drive and Autumn Avenue areas, up to and including the Hampton Road. It will permit expansion in accordance with the town's Municipal Development Plan. The development will address environmental concerns.

New Brunswick communities will receive $116.1 million from the GTF from 2005 to 2010, to which the Government of New Brunswick will add $30 million. Following the 2007 Federal Budget, a further $178.5 million in gas tax funding will flow to New Brunswick communities from 2010 to 2014, for a total of $294.6 million in federal funding over nine years.

To receive its first payment under the Gas Tax Fund, the Town of Quispamsis submitted a five-year capital investment plan for review by the province, and signed an agreement with the Department of Local Government to implement the plan. The municipality was the first municipality in New Brunswick to receive a payment under the GTF.

In December 2007, the governments of Canada and New Brunswick announced the signing of the Building Canada Framework Agreement. With this agreement, the Government of Canada committed to an investment of more than $541 million towards infrastructure needs in New Brunswick from 2007 to 2014, including the Gas Tax funding. In addition, in Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced that the Gas Tax Fund will become permanent from 2014, at $2 billion per year for provinces and territories. This will facilitate long-term planning by municipalities.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The governments of Canada and New Brunswick participated in a ceremony to mark the completion of construction of a municipal water tower and associated distribution system in Quispamsis. This project was the first one to be announced under the Gas Tax Fund in New Brunwick. Under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-up Fund, Quispamsis will receive $2,803,280 by year 2010. The Town of Quispamsis also contributed $50,000, for an estimated total project cost of $2,853,280.