GAS TAX FUND SUPPORTS GREEN POLICIES

Westbank, British Columbia, March 17, 2008 - Communities across British Columbia will benefit from more than $1 billion from the Gas Tax Fund (GTF) between 2010 and 2014, thanks to an agreement signed today by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). British Columbia is the first province to sign an extension of the Gas Tax Agreement.

The GTF supports environmentally sustainable local government infrastructure projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water, or reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This historic signing will provide the largest-ever federal investment in B.C.'s local government infrastructure. The first phase of the GTF, operating from 2005 to 2010, provides $635.6 million to B.C. communities. The GTF is a component of Building Canada, the federal government's new long-term infrastructure plan.

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, signed the agreement on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, with Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services for B.C., and Susan Gimse, President of the UBCM. The agreement was signed at an event celebrating the first allocation of gas tax funding to B.C.'s newest municipalities: Westside, Barriere and Clearwater.

"The Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to provide cities and communities with a stable and predictable source of infrastructure funding," said Minister Day. "Today, we are recognizing the extension of the Gas Tax Fund until 2014 through this agreement with B.C. and UBCM. British Columbians can also be assured that, beyond 2014, the Gas Tax Fund will permanently provide a stable source of funding, as our government committed in Budget 2008."

The range of eligible projects funded through the GTF includes public transit, community energy, water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure improvements. Funding is also available for planning projects that contribute to the sustainability of communities and regions.

"This funding program has been a great success across B.C. for local governments to build infrastructure that supports the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air and water quality," said Minister Chong. "This extension will allow B.C.'s communities to delve deeper into these important infrastructure projects to support greener, healthier communities."

Gas Tax funds are delivered to municipalities in a way that provides them with the flexibility they need to address their infrastructure issues.

"The extension of the Gas Tax Fund provides B.C. local governments with substantial, long term funding for building sustainable communities," said President Gimse. "This is a significant step towards making the Gas Tax Fund permanent in B.C. and affirms the importance of Canada's expanding role in funding local government infrastructure."

Please visit www.civicnet.bc.ca for background information on the Canada – B.C. – UBCM Gas Tax Agreement.