The City of Thompson is getting $200,000 for street paving from $2.25 million of funding for the improvement of municipal roads, the provincial government announced Aug. 3.
The funding is to ensure a smooth transition while the government changes how it delivers its programs to reduce red tape, eliminate duplication and ensure value for money, said Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton in a news release.
Thirty projects in 30 municipalities plus $148,000 of funding for roads in 18 Northern Affairs communities were approved for the 2018 road construction season. An additional $6 million is also being delivered to municipalities held over from previous commitments.
“Investing in municipal infrastructure ensures our communities can sustain continued, long-term growth,” said Wharton. “Maintaining our municipal roads helps to increase economic activity, extend asset life, improve public safety and community development. Our roads are pipelines for the flow of both goods and services, and improvements ensure that our province will continue to see increased economic activity.”
Association of Manitoba Municipalities president Chris Goertzen said the AMM worked with the government to help it select the approved projects.
“Infrastructure remains a top priority for municipalities and we will continue to advocate for building strong communities through streamlined cost-shared infrastructure funding programs with other orders of government,” Goertzen said.
The provincial government held consultations in September 2016 to transition from traditional capital infrastructure programs to a more flexible program delivery that gives municipalities more of a say, Wharton says.
