The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) welcomes the Government of Canada’s investments in infrastructure and broadband, announced today in the federal budget.
“Municipalities are responsible for the infrastructure that residents rely on daily, from delivering safe drinking water to waste management,” said SUMA President, Gordon Barnhart. “Today’s federal budget recognizes the value of continued investment in our hometowns.”
The budget shows money flowing to municipalities through a $2.2 billion top-up through the federal Gas Tax Fund. This one-time transfer doubles the federal government’s commitment to municipalities, funding projects that promote economic growth, clean environment, and strong
communities.Another $1.01 billion is to be distributed through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund to increase energy efficiency in residential, commercial, and multiunit buildings.
The budget also proposes a plan to deliver up to $6 billion in new investments in rural broadband over the next 10 years. It is estimated that by the time all currently planned broadband programs are in place by 2021, about 90 per cent of Canadians will have reliable access to internet.
“Saskatchewan’s hometowns are hubs of growth and innovation,” said President Barnhart. “Access to reliable, fast, and affordable broadband will foster increased growth and improve quality of life for residents.”
Source: http://suma.org/media
