Gas tax returns to communities

The Quebec government announced last week that it will return a total of $7.3 million of federal excise taxes collected on gasoline sold in northern Quebec to communities from Chibougamau to Ivujivik.

“Over the next five years, municipalities and municipal agencies can rely on a set annual payment, which will facilitate the planning of infrastructure maintenance,” said Pierre Corbeil, the provincial minister of natural wildlife and minister responsible for northern Quebec.

For Nunavik, the money will go directly to municipalities, according to population. The amounts range from a total of $269,299 for tiny Aupaluk to $456,235 for Kuujjuaq.

Nunavik leaders have lobbied for the return of these taxes, arguing that money collected for maintenance of road networks should be returned to the region, which is not connected to Quebec’s road grid.

For Quebec as a whole, $1.3 billion is federal funds is being transferred under the agreement, to which Quebec has added $437.7 million.