For Immediate Release
April 3, 2009

PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT
Baird Delivers Doubled Gas Tax Funds for Ottawa – Three Months Early

OTTAWA—John Baird, local Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, was proud to present the city of Ottawa with its first installment of federal gas tax money for 2009-10, just two days into the new fiscal year.

“We promised to double gas tax funds for Canadian cities and we’ve delivered,” said Baird. “What’s more, today’s payment is being made three months sooner than it has in past years. That will allow the city of Ottawa to get moving on priority projects, which will create jobs now and produce real results sooner.”

The Gas Tax Fund is just one way the federal government helps towns and cities invest in modern public infrastructure. It’s stable, predictable funding to help municipalities build and maintain things like water and sewer systems, roads and public transit.

“We have lots of work to do in this city,” said Ottawa Councillor and transit committee chair Alex Cullen after being presented with a $25 million dollar cheque on Parliament Hill. “The contribution coming from the gas tax piece will certainly help us achieve our goals.”

Of the $2 billion the federal government will deliver in gas tax funding across Canada this year, the city of Ottawa will receive a total of $50,304,035. The balance will be paid to the city of Ottawa in November.

The federal gas tax fund will remain at $2 billion per year until 2014 and be a permanent source of funds for municipalities. In Ontario, with the exception of the City of Toronto, the money is flowed through the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

For more information:
Chris Day, Press Secretary
Office of John Baird, MP
Ottawa West-Nepean
(613) 996-0984