Infrastructure builds communities

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/12/2021 (1058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When we think about what builds a community, we first think of people. But there is also the large amount of infrastructure that surrounds it, things such as recreational centres, libraries, sidewalks, pathways, water and wastewater, transit and roads.

The Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly the Gas Tax Fund, provides communities across Manitoba with stable and flexible funding for their infrastructure priorities. This year, our government doubled the amount of funding allocated, which means that Manitoba has received $75.8 million for the 2021-22 fiscal year, and a top-up of more than $72.5 million.

Of this funding, Winnipeg will benefit from $46.4 million and a $44.4 million top-up, for a total of more than $90.8 million to help the City of Winnipeg maintain and improve its infrastructure. Municipalities allocate these funds to carry out infrastructure projects that support the well-being of their residents, and can use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank them for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects, or use them to finance major infrastructure expenditures.

I am pleased to see the impact that the Canada Community-Building Fund is having in Saint Boniface – Saint Vital. It has helped fund important renovations at Bonivital Pool, major road renewal on streets like Archibald and Dunkirk, and a planned new splash pad at Champlain Community Centre.

As a former city councillor, I’m proud of the strong partnership that has developed between the federal government and municipalities like the City of Winnipeg. Together, we can keep our communities healthy and active.

As we near the end of 2021, I want to wish you all happy holidays with family and friends, and a very happy new year!