Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is widely known that our federal partners from Infrastructure Canada have a successful Building Canada Plan which is focused on building a stronger, safer and better Canada through modern world-class public infrastructure. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the provincial/territorial base funding that was established under this 2007 Building Canada Plan.
This $2.276 billion provincial/territorial base fund was provided to provinces and territories for infrastructure in almost all Building Canada Fund eligible categories. To be eligible for funding, each province or territory had to sign an agreement with the Government of Canada, and most recently this government passed capital estimates for small and large cap projects that had the ability to access the balance of such funding.
Although the GNWT did not determine the eligibility criteria to award these projects for funding, it could advance projects that it identifies as eligible for federal funding. In essence the federal government contributes up to 75 percent of eligible cost with the remaining percentage of the budget coming from our government.
This is the nuts and bolts of the program and I’m bringing this known funding program into the House today for nothing more than a quick aerial view of what sometimes gets slipped through the cracks.
You see, one of the comments that many of my Yellowknifers ask is why is the City of Yellowknife always missing out on potential infrastructure dollars, and as a result, how does it maintain itself as a healthy and vibrant capital city.
As a Yellowknifer, I believe this is a fair ask and in doing so, there is no disrespect to our small or remote communities as this question would be equally valid for them if the situation were present. We need to ask such a question in order to make sure we are in harmony in government and for our people, all people.
If one was to analyze all the GNWT projects funded under the Building Canada Plan between 2007 and 2011, Yellowknife received a total of $15,596,099 from a potential amount of $140,682,148 that was given to the GNWT. In other words, Yellowknife, our capital city, home to over half our population, a huge contributor to our tax base, only received 11 percent of this potential funding. Let me repeat that number again, 11 percent.
I believe the purpose of this program under the Building Canada Plan was meant for all Canadians, in order to support projects that contribute to cleaner air and water, safer roads, shorter commutes and better communities, small and large.
We cannot change the past, but in the future I ask that this government consider best practice and fair distribution of infrastructure needs of all communities when looking at proportionate distribution of funding dollars. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
