The Building Canada Fund is a significant commitment from both the federal and provincial governments to address infrastructure needs across the country, and for Yorkton, more specifically within the province of Saskatchewan.
As an example, as of November 2014, applications began being accepted under the Provincial Territorial Infrastructure Component (PTIC) of the New Building Canada Fund (NBCF).
“The New Building Canada Fund will help advance key goals of the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth, as well as contribute to a higher quality of life for our residents,” Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter said at the time of the launch. “This funding will support Saskatchewan communities in meeting some of their infrastructure challenges, and in order to get projects underway as soon as possible, we are starting the application process today.”
Over the next ten years, Saskatchewan will receive $436.7 million from the Government of Canada through PTIC. Of the $436.7 million, $196.5 million will go toward projects that are provincial in nature. The remaining $240.2 million will go toward all other eligible PTIC applicants, and will be funded one-third each by the federal government, the provincial government and other eligible recipients. The total federal/provincial funding that will be invested in Saskatchewan infrastructure will be more than $870 million.
That does sound like a lot of money.
But Monday at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council a plan for a new Integrated Commercial Transportation Project (ICTP) for the city and region was detailed.
“Over the last eight months representatives from the City Manager’s office, Planning & Engineering, Economic Development and Communications have been working with Lawmark Consulting on building an understanding of the transportation logistics chain for Yorkton and region. This research has led to a proposed project that will enhance certain transportation corridors and intersections. The purpose of these enhancements is to facilitate the movement of goods and services within and through the city and strengthens infrastructure connections,” explained a report from Gord Shaw, Director of Planning & Engineering with the City of Yorkton which was circulated to the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
The ICTP consists of several projects in a multi-phased, multi-year program focused on transportation improvements and facilitating land development adjacent to Grain Millers Drive, Sully Avenue North and Gladstone Avenue North by installing needed infrastructure, said Shaw.
The report further detailed, “This project incorporates the installation of infrastructure along key corridors to situate Yorkton and the region for future growth in value-added agricultural businesses while facilitating the movement of goods and services within and through the community. Investment in this project will enhance employment opportunities for the city as well as the region while improving our province’s competiveness in marketing our agricultural and manufactured products on the global stage.”
The first stage will require an investment of $21.4 million.
If approved the BCF would have to invest some $14 million, which is a sizeable chunk out of the 10-year pie.
And then one needs to remember a project a decade from now will cost far more than today, so that pool of money shrinks in its impact each year.
Overall the New Building Canada Plan will see the Government of Canada invest over $53B in infrastructure across the country over the next 10 years (2014-2024).
The funding will include a Communities Component Agreement (BCF-CC) under the Government of Canada Building Canada Plan. This program provides long-term funding to those municipalities with populations less than 100,000 to enhance local infrastructure. In Saskatchewan it will mean almost $437 million.
But again a city such as Yorkton requires a huge piece of that for a single project.
Broadway Street in Yorkton requires a major upgrade, and the City of Yorkton is hoping the Building Canada Fund will be a source of funding.
The most recent cost estimates provided by Integrated Engineering is $52.5 million. The City’s share of the project will be $18.5 million. As of December 31, 2014, $2.59 has been set aside in a capital reserve account. The remaining $15.91 million will be financed through a 10 year long term loan, explained Trent Mandzuk, Director of Public Works with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
That means the City would look for some $36 million from the BCF to facilitate work on a single thoroughfare in the city.
It’s a sure bet Swift Current, Weyburn, Humboldt, Prince Albert, and every other city in the province will be putting forward similar requests, as will towns such as Tisdale, Rosetown and Moosomin, not to mention villages and the like.
The needs in terms of infrastructure shortfalls in this country are staggering, and while the BCF is a step, it will sadly see more projects rejected, or put on hold for years, than it is able to fully fund.
And that is an issue the federal and provincial governments need to continue to address.
