The City of Victoria is set to receive a healthy increase of funding from the federal government in 2021 for the purposes of infrastructure projects.
According to Victoria, the city will receive $7,667,506 in funding through the Canada Community Building Fund, an increase from $3,833,753 in 2020.
“We’re grateful to the federal government for this significant cash transfer directly to local governments at a time when local governments can use it the most,” said Mayor Lisa Helps in a statement on Thursday.
The community fund can be used by the municipal government to assist with a multitude of projects that “increase sustainability and resilience and improve quality of life for residents.”
Some examples of previous infrastructure projects that Victoria has used government funding for include adding LED streetlights, rehabilitating storm drain rehabilitation and stormwater quality improvement, creating new crosswalks and expanding bike networks.
The City of Victoria plans to invest $4.1 million in storm drain rehabilitation and $2.5 million in bike network implementation as part of the 2021 budget.
“The doubling of this fund for 2021 will allow us to do more now and to plan for even larger investments in quality of life and sustainability infrastructure as we begin our 2022 budgeting process soon,” added Helps.
“We are thankful for the confidence that the federal government has placed in local governments through the Community Building Fund and that we’re seen as partners in building back better by creating jobs, reducing emissions and creating more equitable and sustainable communities.”
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Graham Cox
