Feds give B.C. more gas tax funding options for culture, tourism and sports

VANCOUVER – The federal government has loosened the reins on how British Columbia politicians can spend almost $2.76 billion from Canada’s Gas Tax Fund.

Up until now the funds were only available for infrastructure, but local politicians can now apply for funding for projects supporting culture, tourism and sports.

Metro Vancouver will be receiving over half of that money and Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie says the regional district plans on spending about 95 per cent of the funding on public transit.

The $2.76 billion in funding is in addition to $1.1 billion from the New Building Canada Fund, which gives the province $3.9 billion in federal funding over the next 10 years.

Coralee Oakes, B.C.’s minister of community, sport and culture, says the new flexibility in funding will allow local governments to better meet spending needs.

The fund has been used to support numerous project in B.C. including for new SkyTrain vehicles, to expand a recycling centre in Ladysmith and for green energy projects in Fort St. John.