Ontario – On behalf of the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce, today announced funding for a commemorative restoration projects in Goderich. This announcement further supports the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to engage Canadians in active remembrance from coast to coast and to bring attention to the great service and sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans.

“I applaud these communities for their work to restore their commemorative monuments that provide us a place in our community to honour local heroes,” said MP Lobb. “Helping community groups restore local memorials is one way our Government is working to ensure young Canadians and their families will learn about and remember the achievements and sacrifices of our Veterans.”

The Town of Goderich was hit by a tornado in 2011 resulting in extensive damage to the grounds surrounding the war memorial. Restoration work was started in the spring and was completed in May 2013. The town will receive up to $5,896 to complete the restoration project by installing six concrete benches near the memorial.

Local historian, David Yates, said “the approval of funding from the Cenotaph Restoration fund is greatly appreciated to enhance the commemorative gardens surrounding the hallowed grounds of the town's cenotaph area.”

Veterans Affairs Canada partners with community groups and non-profit organizations through three programs to further commemorate the courage and sacrifices of Veterans and men and women in uniform. These programs can support remembrance activities, and restoration or construction of cenotaphs and monuments. For more information or applications to the Community Engagement Partnership Fund (CEPF), the Community War Memorial Program (CWMP), or the Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program (CMRP), visit veterans.gc.ca.

Second installment of annual $2-billion transfer available for municipal infrastructure

Goderich, ONTARIO, November 14, 2013 – Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced that the second installment of Canada’s Gas Tax Fund for 2013 is being made available to municipalities in Huron-Bruce. This installment makes available a total of $6,510,677 to Huron-Bruce this year to support its local infrastructure priorities.

"Our Government is proud to invest in important infrastructure projects, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada," said Ben Lobb. "We are proud to support economic growth across Huron-Bruce by supporting local infrastructure priorities through the federal Gas Tax Fund."

In Ontario, this has meant access to close to $4.7 billion to date for community projects. Funding can currently be spent in the following areas:

• Drinking water
• Wastewater infrastructure
• Public transit
• Community energy systems
• Solid waste management
• Local roads

Canada’s Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to help municipalities build and revitalize their local infrastructure. Funding is provided up front, twice a year and the Government of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the City of Toronto administer the program across the province. Projects are chosen by local governments and support the local infrastructure priorities of each community.

The Government of Canada has made the $2 billion a year in funding under the Gas Tax Fund permanent. As announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, the program is now indexed at 2 per cent per year, with increases to be applied in $100 million increments, starting in 2014. From 2014-2015 to 2023-24, this represents $21.8 billion in flexible, long-term funding for municipal infrastructure.

Backgrounder

The federal Gas Tax Fund makes capital investments in important community infrastructure. Eligible investments currently include water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure, public transit, community energy systems, local roads and bridges, and capacity building. It provides predictable, stable funding, allowing municipalities to choose and plan the infrastructure priorities in their community.

Through the Gas Tax Fund, municipalities across Ontario have benefited from close to $4.7 billion in predictable and flexible funding for local priorities since the program began. The Government of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the City of Toronto administer the program across the province.

Huron- Bruce Funding

How the Gas Tax Fund Works

Canada's Gas Tax Fund has provided $13 billion to Canadian communities to date. The funding allocation is based on population for most jurisdictions. In recognition of their population size, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut receive amounts equal to 0.75 percent of the total annual national allocation, allowing them to also make meaningful investments in infrastructure. Funding is provided up front, twice a year to provincial and territorial governments or to the municipal associations which deliver this funding within a province, as well as to the City of Toronto. Projects are chosen locally and prioritized according to the infrastructure needs of each community. Municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, providing significant financial flexibility.

On April 1, 2009, Gas Tax Fund payments doubled to $2 billion annually. In 2011, legislation was passed to make funding under the Gas Tax Fund permanent at $2 billion per year.

As announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, the eligible categories for the Gas Tax Fund will be expanded and the Fund will be indexed at 2 per cent a year in $100-million increments, starting in 2014, allowing municipalities even more flexibility to focus on their infrastructure priorities. The expanded categories include:

• projects supporting culture, tourism, sport and recreation;
• disaster mitigation;
• broadband communication systems;
• highways;
• short-line rail;
• short-sea shipping;
• brownfield redevelopment; and
  • local and regional airports.

Over the 10-year life of the New Building Canada Plan from 2014 to 2024, the Gas Tax Fund will provide close to $22 billion in funding for municipalities.

The Government of Canada is working with its provincial and territorial partners to ensure a seamless transition to the new funding.

Goderich, Ontario —Last week the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy released the annual Members Expenditures Report for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2012 and ending on March 31, 2013.  Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce had the lowest house expense for all local MP’s.

The Members’ Expenditures Report provides detailed information on all 308 MPs’ budgets and includes a summary of their expenses.  These reports outline how much they spent on travel, accommodations, residences, hospitality, advertising and a number of other categories.

MP Lobb’s expenses for the 2012-2013 fiscal year totaled $322,553.52.  His expenses were almost $90,000 less that the local MP with the highest expenses and almost $23,000 under the MP with the lowest expenses.  This is all while having two fully staffed offices in the riding and one in Ottawa.

Here are the expenses for MP’s in the region:

• Ed Holder, London West: $ 411,486.74
• Irene Mathyssen, London- Fanshawe: $ 407,928.17
• Bev Shipley, Lambton- Kent- Middlesex: $ 398,024.02
• Joe Preston, Elgin- Middlesex- London: $ 386,316.90
• Susan Truppe, London North Centre: $ 376,478.63
• Pat Davidson, Sarnia- Lambton: $ 370,193.60
• Gary Schellenberger, Perth- Wellington $ 366,881.88
• Dave MacKenzie, Oxford: $ 354,465.70
• Dave Van Kesteren, Chatham- Kent Essex: $ 345,486.03
• Ben Lobb, Huron- Bruce: $ 322,553.52

For more information or to View the Members Expenditures Report please visit: http://www.parl.gc.ca/PublicDisclosure/UnderstandingReport.aspx?Language=E