New infrastructure fund includes $1B for small communities

CBC News Posted: Feb 13, 2014 2:16 PM ET
Smaller communities across the country will now have access to the same predictable funds that large urban centres have enjoyed in the past, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in Gormley, Ont., today as he unveiled the details of a much anticipated 10-year infrastructure plan.

Read the details of the New Building Canada Fund here
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"Provinces, territories, and municipalities will now have unprecedented access to predictable, sustainable, federal, infrastructure funds for a decade," Harper said.

The New Building Canada Plan includes a $14 billion fund to for projects of national significance and $10 billion for provincial and territorial infrastructure projects.

The $10 billion fund will see $9 billion of that directed to national and regional projects, and $1 billion set aside exclusively for projects in small communities with under 100,000 residents.

The new fund was first announced in last year's budget but cities have been waiting for over a year to find out if they qualify for the federal funds, which will start flowing on March 31.

Canada's mayors have complained about the delay, saying it could result in them losing out on thousands of jobs that come with the construction season.

Municipalities will be watching closely to see who benefits from the new funds to fix crumbling bridges, roads and wastewater systems.