Medicine Hat and other Alberta cities will likely have to wait for a provincial budget before receiving an expected windfall of federal infrastructure funds, according to the provincial group that lobbies on behalf of municipalities.
In Medicine Hat’s case it could provide an additional $3.5 million to fund its capital construction budget.
In March, Ottawa announced a one-year doubling of money it provides to cities from the federal gas tax program as part of its budget.
That came in the middle of a provincial election, and since the provincial government administers the program via its own budget, cash likely won’t be available until the UCP finalizes its spending plan, likely in the fall.
Amounts to specific jurisdictions are determined on a per-capita formula, and this month the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association stated it expects the province to be equitable with smaller locations and counties that receive a minimum amounts due to low population.
Most municipalities classified as villages receive a minimum $50,000 outlay, including the M.D. of Acadia, Foremost, Empress and Cereal.
In 2018, Cypress County received $422,600 in gas tax funds, Redcliff $308,900, the County of Forty Mile $197,500, Bow Island $112,700 and Newell County $444,500.
