Canada and Manitoba Invest in Infrastructure

25 projects will create jobs, boost local economies

• Backgrounder

Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 22, 2009 — The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board and MP for Provencher and Premier Gary Doer today announced joint funding of over $160 million for infrastructure projects under the new stimulus funding provided for in Canada's Economic Action Plan.

In addition, Minister Toews noted that the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba will be providing financial support of up to $8 million for intersection safety improvements at Highways 207 and 206 along Highway 15 under the Provincial Territorial Base Fund.

“Today’s announcement provides much needed investment in Manitoba roads, highways, and parks,” said Premier Gary Doer. “We continue to invest in our future by building our province through improved highway infrastructure, recreational facilities, and water and wastewater treatment facilities, which stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is getting shovels in the ground and flowing money faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Manitobans,” said Minister Toews. “These investments will help ensure that Manitoba’s communities continue to be successful and strong during these challenging economic times.”

The new federal $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects that will be built during this year and next year’s construction seasons. These infrastructure projects in Manitoba will receive a joint federal investment of almost $80 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

Today’s announcement continues the important steps the province of Manitoba is taking to support economic growth by investing $1.6 billion this year into infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and renew the province’s roads, schools, health facilities, and water treatment facilities.

A few of the important stimulus projects that will benefit from this funding include:

• Rehabilitation of multiple sections of PTH1 throughout the province
• The redevelopment of Winnipeg Beach
• Upgrading Gunn Road

The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years. The Province of Manitoba is working closely with the federal government to ensure that these infrastructure funds are being spent well on priorities in the province’s communities.

For further information, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For further information contact:

Christine Csversko
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-957-2666

Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Jonathan Hildebrand
Cabinet Communications
Province of Manitoba
204-945-1494

Backgrounder
INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND IN MANITOBA

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

About the Program

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund complements existing federal infrastructure funding by focusing on short-term objectives for economic stimulus. To further this goal of rapid economic stimulus, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund will focus on construction–readiness as important project selection criteria. The full $4 billion will be distributed in fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Projects will focus largely on the rehabilitation of existing assets such as water, wastewater, public transit, highways, roads, culture, parks, and trails.

For provincial assets, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute up to fifty per cent of eligible costs. For municipal projects, the federal and provincial governments will contribute up to two-thirds of eligible costs, with municipalities expected to contribute one-third.

Infrastructure Stimulus Fund at Work in Manitoba

Following discussion with the province, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is already at work in Manitoba. On May 22, 2009, Canada and Manitoba announced a joint investment of $159 million for up to 24 provincial and community infrastructure projects that will create jobs and help build stronger communities. Projects include important investments in provincial highway, parks and trails, and cultural infrastructure, as well as in municipal and not-for-profit sector assets.