ST. PAUL – The County of St. Paul approved the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement to secure federal funding through the 2024 Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) during the Sept. 10 council meeting.
The agreement will support the County’s application for Project #6C2310 - the Michaud Road upgrade, which would cost $471,259.
CAO Jason Wallsmith explained the County was already approved for funding in August 2024, but funding was not allocated as the federal government and the Alberta government were preparing for a memorandum of agreement at the time.
He updated council during the meeting that to get the funding, “They’re asking if we’re willing to sign the agreement, which is very much straightforward.” The CAO said there are no major changes to report.
The CCBF, previously known as the Gas Tax Fund until 2020, allocates federal funding to municipalities for infrastructure projects. It is administered by the Government of Alberta.
Wallsmith said some changes to the distribution formula this year include local governments now receiving a base funding of $50,000 starting in 2024, with the remainder being distributed based on population.
According to the 25-pages CCBF program guidelines attached to the agenda, the changes will ensure smaller communities receive funding.
Previously, funding was distributed on a per capita basis.
Changes also include stricter reporting requirements, such as detailed project outcome reports and certified financial reports before the release of funds.
Municipal governments are also now required to maintain a separate bank account for CCBF funds, ensuring more transparency in how the money is managed and spent.
These updates to the CCBF are part of a broader agreement between Alberta and Canada, which involves both levels of government’s attempt to address housing challenges across the province.
Although the housing requirement is targeted at communities with populations over 30,000.
Councillor Louis Dechaine motioned council to approve Reeve Ockerman and CAO Jason Wallsmith to execute the CCBF Memorandum of Agreement. The motion was carried.
