Federal Gas Tax Funding

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is pleased to facilitate a federal investment in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure through the use of Federal Gas Tax Funding.

Announced in the 2005 Federal Budget, the funding will result in approximately $1.9 billion flowing to Ontario municipalities for environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure between 2005 – 2010.  Vaughan’s portion will total $14,786,956.42 over that time.  In March 2007, the Federal Budget announced that the Federal Gas Tax program will be extended to 2014.

The City of Vaughan is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to use this groundbreaking new revenue source to build strong and sustainable communities within the City of Vaughan that consist of:

• A shared vision of community sustainability (Vaughan Vision);
• Environmental, social, cultural and economic elements; and
• Enhancements to the quality of life.

The Federal Gas Tax is longer term predictable funding that will give the City the ability to invest in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure.  It comes with the expectation that the investments will see Ontarians enjoying cleaner air, cleaner water and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Federal investment is not an application based initiative nor does it require matching funding.  Rather it empowers the City of Vaughan to make investments within the parameters established in the Agreement for the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues under the New Deal for Cities and Communities between the Governments of Canada and Ontario, AMO and the City of Toronto signed June 17, 2005.  One of these requirements is that the funding be used for eligible projects incremental to our 5-year historical average from 2000 – 2004.  The City of Vaughan executed our funding agreement on November 25, 2005.

What types of infrastructure are eligible?

Environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure projects within the following categories:

• Public transit
• Water
• Wastewater
• Solid waste
• Local roads
• Bridges and tunnels, including transportation infrastructure (e.g. bike lanes)
• Capacity building and community energy systems (e.g. retrofit municipal buildings and infrastructure)

City of Vaughan Projects funded by Federal Gas Tax Funding

Each year of the Federal Gas Tax program, additional projects will be added through the City of Vaughan’s annual Capital Budget process:

PROJECT	DESCRIPTION	FEDERAL CONTIBUTION
Community Energy Systems
Energy Conservation Improvements	Study required to create energy retrofit program for all municipal buildings and recreation centres	$291,913
Local Roads & Bridges
Road Resurfacing	Local City road repairs.	$1,361,783
Pavement Management	Phase 2 of the Citywide pavement management plan.	$5,875,000
Public Transit
Curb and Sidewalk Replacement	Annual curb and sidewalk replacement program.	$3,062,500
Walkway Repairs	Annual repair and replacement of walkway system.	$200,000
Park Hard Service/Walkway	Repair of broken or damaged hard surface walkway located in parks throughout the City.	$211,200
Pedestrian & Bicycle Network	Supply and install bicycle route signage, dedicated bicycle and/or lanes, pathways and pavement markings at various locations. Includes public education programs and mapping.	$110,055
Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan off road system	Design of trail systems through out the City.	$60,000
Solid Waste
Green Bin Project	Provide green organic bins fo curbside pick-up to divert waste from landfill.	$1,356,000
Recyling	Recyling program.	$79,000
Wastewater
Storm Pond Sediment Removal	Remove silt accumulation to restore storm water storage at various locations throughout the City.	$802,530
King High Park Swale Rehabilitation	Rehabilitation of swale to prevent flooding of adjacent properties under severe storm conditions eliminate erosion.	$133,900
Tall Grass Trail Rehabilitation	Reconstruct the channel liner and side slopes and eliminate erosion.	$288,400

For more information about Federal Gas Tax visit the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) website at www.amo.on.ca.

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