Ric McIver/Facebook

By Canadian Press, CHAT News Staff

Alberta announces new municipal infrastructure grant, but minister says more needed

Oct 22, 2024 | 12:18 PM

Alberta’s municipalities can apply for a new provincial infrastructure grant, but Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said Tuesday more funding is needed.

The province aims to distribute a total of $20 million each year for the next three years.

McIver said the program is meant to help fast growing mid-sized cities with populations under 200,000 address infrastructure needs such as sewer systems, roads and water lines.

Some of the annual funding will be set aside for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people.

The program will likely be oversubscribed given the limited funding available and the widespread need for additional infrastructure funding across the province, McIver acknowledged.

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Alberta Municipalities, the organization that represents mid-sized cities, estimates the province has a $30 billion infrastructure deficit.

Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick said at a business breakfast event on Tuesday that infrastructure in any municipality is a challenge.

“Infrastructure of course in any municipality is a losing game,” Kilpatrick said.

“You guys don’t actually pay enough taxes for us to replace what services you use,” he added.

“So that’s called infrastructure deficit and and it’s huge and I’m pretty sure Redcliff is not the only one living with that.”