AMO presents Gas Tax Award to Kincardine for leachate treatment plant

The Municipality of Kincardine has been recognized by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for investing the federal gas tax fund into a new leachate treatment facility.

Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie (centre, in photo at right) receives the award from Amarjeet Sohi (left), Ontario minister of infrastructure and communities, and AMO president Lynn Dollin Monday (Aug. 14).

The AMO Gas Tax Award is given out each year to municipal governments that demonstrate excellence in the use of the federal Gas Tax Fund. The awards highlight infrastructure projects that make a difference in communities by addressing local needs, creating economic growth or achieving environmental outcomes.

Kincardine received the award for investing more than $1.5-million from the federal gas tax fund into its leachate treatment facility. Leachate can be harmful to the environment and must be disposed of properly. Before building the new facility, the municipality was transporting leachate 750 kilometres each week to an off-site location. Eliminating the need to transport leachate will save the community $250,000 per year.

“The Government of Canada has committed to working with provinces, territories and municipalities to ensure they receive the support they need to build strong and vibrant communities,” said Sohi. “The federal gas tax fund gives municipalities like Kincardine the flexibility to invest in infrastructure projects that address local needs and contribute to a cleaner environment.”

“The federal gas tax fund has enabled our municipality to innovatively treat leachate in an environmentally-responsible manner, protecting our beautiful community,” said Eadie.

“Kincardine’s new leachate treatment facility eliminates the need to transport a harmful material and will benefit the municipality for years to come,” said Dollin. “The federal gas tax fund is helping municipal governments invest in local projects that help keep the environment clean.”

The federal gas tax fund is a permanent and stable source of funding for municipal infrastructure. AMO delivers the fund to Ontario municipalities, except Toronto, twice a year, on a per-capita basis. This approach means that federal funding can address the diverse needs found in all Ontario’s municipalities. AMO will administer more than $620-million from the fund in 2017.

To learn more about the gas tax fund in Ontario, visit: www.gastaxatwork.ca or @GasTaxinOntario on Twitter.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments. It supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of the political system in Ontario and Canada.