Alta. to spend $200M on infrastructure projects as economic recovery continues

Province pledges $200M to Alberta municipalities The provincial government will spend another $200 million on municipal infrastructure projects as part of its economic recovery program.

EDMONTON — The provincial government will spend another $200 million on municipal infrastructure projects as part of its economic recovery program.

Premier Jason Kenney and Transportation Minister Ric McIver announced the additional $200 million would be earmarked for local transportation infrastructure and waterworks projects, creating thousands of jobs.

Fifty-million dollars of the investment will go toward the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program and $150 million will go to public waterworks project.

Projects funded under the new grants will begin as early as this weekend, Kenney said.

Alberta cities called for more support from the province earlier this month to help deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Don Iveson said at the time that Edmonton’s biggest need is funding for transit. Ridership dropped upwards of 70 per cent during the pandemic, and the Edmonton Transit Service is bleeding $10 million per month.

He said Edmonton needs $217 million not only to keep buses running, but also to fund future infrastructure projects.

In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government will be offering cities an advanced transfer of $2.2 billion in infrastructure money to help cover COVID-19-prompted budget shortfalls. He did not commit to any new funding.