PLANNING FOR GROWTH PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

Saskatchewan municipalities are moving forward as nine regional projects, representing 52 municipalities with a total population of 520,000, are the initial successful Planning for Growth program applicants.

On June 18, 2010, the Government of Canada announced a total contribution of $600,000 to the Planning for Growth Initiative through the Gas Tax Fund, and the Government of Saskatchewan invested an additional $500,000 through Enterprise Saskatchewan. Municipalities provide a minimum of 50 per cent of the funding for projects and the program is administered by the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

Approximately half of this joint contribution - or $565,000 - has been allocated to the nine successful projects of the first intake of Planning for Growth initiative today. With municipalities providing the balance of the funding, the nine projects will receive a total of $1.14 million to strengthen community planning. A second intake for applications will open on November 15, with a deadline for applications of December 31, 2010.

"This is a great response by municipalities," Municipal Affairs Minister Darryl Hickie said. "The quality of the applications was very high, with groups of rural and urban municipalities showing tremendous innovation. This program helps everyone involved work together and move forward with support for planning that leads to regional growth and development."

Planning for Growth is a collaborative federal, provincial and municipal initiative with projects receiving funding from all three levels of government. The program is supported by the City Mayors Caucus, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) and Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the groups that helped drive the initiative forward with the goal of helping municipalities work together.

"The Planning for Growth program demonstrates the flexibility of the Gas Tax fund, which allowed the Province of Saskatchewan to use some of the provincial Gas Tax Fund allocation for this collaborative initiative" said Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. "Thanks to federal and provincial funding, 52 municipalities will be able to better plan and finance their long-term infrastructure needs which will increase their capacity for growth."

Planning for Growth strongly emphasizes regional co-operation and the development of consistent polices for land use and development across municipal boundaries. The successful applicants show how their projects will help attract and direct investment, support economic development, establish regional infrastructure planning and address environmental protection.

"The 52 municipalities that will receive the first intake of Planning for Growth funding represent a significant portion of Saskatchewan," Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Their collaboration and leadership in encouraging economic development and population growth will no doubt serve the people of their regions and the residents of this province well."

The Federal Gas Tax Fund delivers funding to local governments and other eligible recipients primarily for capital projects leading to cleaner air, water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Funding is also available for planning projects helping to sustain communities and regions.

The Government of Canada extended the Gas Tax Fund to 2014, resulting in a total of $372 million for municipal infrastructure funding for Saskatchewan municipalities. The Government of Canada announced in Budget 2008 the Gas Tax Fund would become permanent beyond 2014.

A backgrounder is attached describing the nine successful projects and more information is available at www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/Funding/PlanningForGrowth.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503

Jeff Welke
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6156
Cell: 306-536-1185

Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-948-1148