Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm here to speak about clause 130 of the bill, which proposes to provide up to $2.2 billion for the purposes of municipal, regional and first nations infrastructure. This funding will be delivered primarily through an existing program called the federal gas tax fund. The gas tax fund is a permanent, legislated and indexed funding program. It has been around since 2005. It currently provides approximately $2.2 billion—last year—to 3,600 municipalities and communities across the country for the purpose of investments in their local infrastructure.
Through the program, funding is provided up front to provinces and territories that are signatories, and they then flow funds to the municipalities. Projects are chosen locally. Municipalities are allowed to choose among a wide variety of investment categories to address their needs as determined by local governments.
Generally in the past few years, the funding supports approximately 4,000 projects per year. As I said, it's very flexible, not only in terms of the categories but in terms of how the municipalities can spend the funds. They do not necessarily need to spend it in any given year. They can bank it to pool it for a larger amount to spend for a larger project if they wish. They can work with other municipalities to work on a regional project. It's a program that's very well appreciated and very well supported by all of our stakeholders.
I will conclude with that.