We appreciate the range of diversity that exists in our country, cultural and linguistic and geographical diversity, with our large-sized urban centres, mid-sized communities, small communities, and rural northern communities. We want to make sure that every community gets the necessary support from the federal government. That's why we have created this dedicated funding of $2.4 billion to support rural and northern communities on projects and also to get northern communities off of diesel and on to a more sustainable source of energy.
You have identified something that we have heard very loud and clear from MPs as well as from mayors and councillors in small communities. What we are doing moving forward is that instead of having the cookie-cutter approach that every community must match one-third of the funding, the province must match one-third, and the federal government gives one-third, we are changing that formula for communities with populations of less than 5,000 people. The federal government will pick up the cost at 60% of the funding, and provinces will provide one-third of the funding. That takes a lot of pressure away from local communities. They will only contribute a small amount. Their tax base is very limited, and we feel this is a transformational change when it comes to supporting small, rural, and northern communities.