$3,586,332 Infrastructure Investment will provide jobs, boost local economy and improve quality of life for families.

(Cambridge, ON) Friday, May 15 – Families and workers in Cambridge will soon see faster improvements to roads, and other local infrastructure thanks to the Conservative government’s doubling of Gas Tax transfers to municipalities, said Conservative Member of Parliament and Minister of State (Science & Technology) Gary Goodyear.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is doubling the annual funding that Cambridge receives as part of the Gas Tax Fund and making up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early,” said Goodyear. “This increased investment will total $3,586,332 in 2009 and will help to create jobs, boost sales for local businesses and improve the quality of life for the families of Cambridge during this challenging economic time in our history.”

This latest announcement builds on the Conservative government’s previous action of providing permanent Gas Tax Fund transfers to municipalities. Doubling transfers will further help municipalities ensure that their infrastructure is able to meet the future needs of local families, workers and businesses.

The federal Gas Tax transfers to the provinces and municipalities doubled starting April 1, 2009, and will provide a total of $2 billion per year for municipalities to invest in projects like new roads, water treatment plants, improved buses and transit systems, as well as better sewers and bridges Accelerating the first payment of the Gas Tax Fund by almost three months, making up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early. The first payment was made in April.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Conservative government is building on the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years. “Our government is proud to be working with provinces and municipalities to deliver stable, predictable funding for infrastructure that Canadians use and depend on every day,” said Goodyear.