Environment fund used for roads and city hall

The city is using millions in federal environmental funding to build roads and renovate city hall. The projects being financed this year include repaving of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway and a number of other roads, a few of which are adding bike lanes.

In 2005, under pressure from the NDP, the minority government headed by Paul Martin agreed to provide some of its gas tax revenue to municipalities for green infrastructure “to improve water and air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions”. The initial funding of $900 million was subsequently increased and the Harper government has now made it permanent.

“The Gas Tax Fund is the largest component of the $33 billion Building Canada Plan,” explains a recent federal press release. “It provides stable, predictable funding to municipalities in support of environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure projects such as green energy, public transit, water and wastewater infrastructure, and local roads.”