Changes to the infrastructure funding application process announced yesterday are being applauded by municipalities. Association of Manitoba Municipalities President Chris Goertzen attended yesterday's announcement in Brandon, where Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke revealed the streamlining of the application process. Rather than having four different time frames, with each one dedicated to a single type of infrastructure, the province will now accept applications for all infrastructure grants in one period of time, and through a single website. Goertzen notes these changes will have sweeping benefits across the province, now that a more efficient system has been created.

"It's very good for many municipalities, especially smaller municipalities who struggle to find applications and complete applications when they have so many other things going on in their municipality. To have this one window where they simply do one application for all four programs is a positive step in the process of getting a fair say for municipalities."

The four categories are the Municipal Road and Bridge Program, the New Building Canada Fund - Small Communities Fund, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, and the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. Municipalities have only a few weeks to apply, as the deadline for the current intake period is August 26th.

Goertzen doesn't anticipate it will take long for municipalities to jump at the opportunity to apply for the new funding, with provincial funding under the current intake period valued at about $63.84 million.

"I think municipalities will apply under the one window, because it's one window instead of four. I think we'll see all municipalities taking advantage of this."

Another change highlighted during Clarke's announcement was the impact of increased federal infrastructure funding. Historically funding agreements have seen the municipality, province, and federal government each provide an equal amount to the province. However, under the new federal government they're covering up to 50 per cent of project costs, with the municipality and province sharing the remaining 50 per cent.