Alberta announces new municipal infrastructure grant [Video]

LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. –

Alberta is offering infrastructure funding to help municipalities accommodate recent population growth.

The province has added a little over 500,000 people over five years, putting pressure on public services.

In response, the provincial government announced the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant on Tuesday.

“We asked municipalities to step up and create economic activity, to provide investment, grow jobs for Albertans, and they’ve really done that. But sometimes when municipalities do that and do great things for the municipality that way, it does create other issues,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver.

The grant will provide $60 million to municipalities over three years.

McIver says the program is meant to help fast-growing mid-sized cities with populations under 200,000 address infrastructure needs such as sewer systems, roads and water lines.

Some of the annual funding will be set aside for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people.

“It’s just really important for …