During its September 10 meeting, the county of St. Paul council approved the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement to secure federal funding through the 2024 Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF). This agreement will support the county’s application for Project #6C2310, the Michaud Road upgrade, a project with an estimated cost of $471,259.
County CAO Jason Wallsmith explained that the county had already been approved for the funding in August 2024. However, the allocation was delayed as both the federal and Alberta governments were finalizing the memorandum of agreement.
Wallsmith assured council members that there were no major changes to the report, stating, “They’re asking if we’re willing to sign the agreement, which is very much straightforward.” The CCBF, formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, until 2020, provides municipalities with federal funding for infrastructure projects and is administered by the Government of Alberta. The fund, previously distributed on a per capita basis, has introduced stricter reporting and transparency requirements.
Municipalities now must submit detailed project outcome reports and certified financial statements before receiving funds and are required to maintain a separate bank account for CCBF funds to ensure better management and transparency.
One significant change to the funding distribution formula, highlighted by Wallsmith, includes the introduction of base funding of $50,000 for all local governments, with additional amounts distributed based on population. These updates are intended to ensure that smaller communities, like St. Paul, receive adequate funding for critical infrastructure projects.
The changes to the CCBF are part of a broader agreement between the governments of Alberta and Canada, which aims to address infrastructure and housing challenges. The housing provisions are focused on larger communities with populations exceeding 30,000.
Councillor Louis Dechaine put forward the motion to approve Reeve Ockerman and CAO Jason Wallsmith to execute the Memorandum of Agreement, which was carried by the council.
