Today in the Municipality of Dutton- Dunwich, Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London presented Mayor Bonnie Vowel with a presentation cheque for $120,095 for the 2009-2010.  Mayor Graham Warwick received a cheque for $177,542 for the Municipality of West Elgin.

On April 1st, 2009, the federal Gas Tax Transfer to the provinces and territories to support better municipal infrastructure doubled to $2 billion annually. The Gas Tax Fund (GTF) will remain at that level beyond 2014, when the Government makes it a permanent measure. Accelerating the first payment of the Gas Tax Fund by almost three months, the federal government is made up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early.

 “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is doubling the annual funding that our municipalities have received as part of the Gas Tax Fund and made up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early,” said Preston.  “This increased investment will total $2,159,884 in 2009 and will help to create jobs, boost sales for local businesses and improve the quality of life for the families.”

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 Preston.