Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
It's a pleasure to be here today to talk about Infrastructure Canada's role in the north.
My opening remarks will be very brief to allow time for your questions.
Infrastructure Canada was created in 2002, and since that time we have developed a number of programs that have been largely national in scope, reach, and mandate, but the programs touch every community in Canada.
Through all our initiatives, the intent has been to support projects in every jurisdiction that address a number of different types of asset categories that are key to Canada's well-being, including waste and waste-water systems, public transit, local roads, prisons and broadband.
The goal over the long term has been to fund public infrastructure that supports a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and better communities. Since budget 2009, this has been supplemented by the need for immediate economic action to stimulate Canada's economy.
Since 2002, our contributions in the north, and specifically in the three territories, have both increased and become more streamlined.
Under the Building Canada plan introduced in 2007, virtually all Infrastructure Canada's funding has flowed to the three territories through a new initiative called the provincial and territorial base funding program, or the PT base fund. Under this program, over $182 million will flow to each of the three territories. This is roughly ten times what any of the territories would have received had this program been allocated on a per capita basis.
In addition to providing more money than ever through any single program to the territories for infrastructure, this measure is also extremely streamlined and very flexible to meet the needs of the territories. For example, cost-sharing is done on the basis of a plan. Rather than funding each particular project, we request from each of the territories a capital plan, and we fund that plan on its aggregate basis rather than examining each of the projects in great detail.
In addition, this plan is funded on the basis of 75% by the federal government and 25% by the territories. This is in recognition of the lower fiscal capacity of each of the territories in the north, and also in recognition of the fact that infrastructure tends to have a higher cost base in the north, given the relatively low population densities over the wide geographic areas.
I would also note that for the territories we have a general northern infrastructure category. This ensures the adequate flexibility for infrastructure considerations unique to northern needs.
Beyond the PT base fund and in recognition of their smaller populations and greater needs, the territories are also allocated a set amount of funding under Canada's gas tax fund. In all the provinces, with the exception of Prince Edward Island, the gas tax fund is allocated on a per capita basis. However, the territories each receive a payment of $15 million per year at this time. That, again, is far in excess of their per capita allocation.
In partnership with Canada's territories and their local communities, the Government of Canada and Infrastructure Canada have accomplished a great deal in northern Canada. In the Yukon, for example, we are flowing funding under the infrastructure stimulus fund for the Top of the World Highway, and over $71 million in contribution toward the Mayo B hydro facility through budget 2009's new green infrastructure fund. In the Northwest Territories, we're funding a great deal of highway construction under the PT base fund, including the Dempster Highway, the Ingraham Trail, the Mackenzie Highway, the Liard Highway, and the Fort Resolution Highway. In Nunavut, our highlight project in the past year has been supporting repairs to the facilities for the Arctic Winter Games arena.
These are just a few illustrations of the projects we've funded throughout the territories.
With that, I'd be very pleased to take your questions.