Canada-Manitoba Invest In Infrastructure

Projects to create jobs, boost local economies

• Backgrounder

Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 29, 2009 — The Honourable Manitoba Premier, Gary Doer, along with the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board and the Member of Parliament for Provencher, today announced funding for infrastructure initiatives under Canada’s Economic Action Plan and existing infrastructure programs that will benefit Manitoba communities.

“Investing in infrastructure is a triple win for Manitoba,” said Premier Gary Doer. “We're stimulating the economy, creating jobs, and building a better tomorrow for all Manitobans, and today's announcement reaffirms the provinces commitment to building and renewing infrastructure in Manitoba."

“Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is getting shovels in the ground to stimulate the economy and create jobs,” said Minister Toews. “Today’s announcement builds upon the solid track record that Canada and Manitoba have for selecting important projects and funding infrastructure that makes a difference in your communities.”

The Governments of Canada and Manitoba will be providing up to $12.2 million in financial support to the Manitoba Sikh Cultural and Seniors Centre and the construction of the new True North MoosePlex Hockey Canada Centre in Winnipeg.

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. When combined with the infrastructure projects announced on May 22, 2009, 29 projects in Manitoba will receive a joint federal-provincial investment of up to $177.5 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

The stimulus projects that will benefit from this funding include:

• Winnipeg – Manitoba Centennial Centre Refurbishment
• Winnipeg – United Way Headquarters
• Winnipeg – Winnipeg Harvest Community Food Distribution & Training Centre
• Brandon – Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium
• Winnipeg – Salvation Army Multicultural Family Centre

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.

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.

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:

Felicia Wasylowski
Regional Communications Advisor
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
204-983-7096

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
PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL BASE FUND IN MANITOBA

A set of new infrastructure initiatives will be jointly funded between the Government of Canada and Manitoba under the Provincial-Territorial Base Funding agreement.
The infrastructure initiatives are as follows:

• Manitoba Sikh Cultural and Seniors Centre - A Heritage and Cultural Centre in support of the creation of a cultural precinct in Winnipeg's urban core.
• True North MoosePlex Hockey Canada Centre of Excellence - Four NHL size ice pads to support the development of amateur athletes. The facility is also for public use.

In addition to these two initiatives, on May 22, 2009, the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba announced that they would be providing joint financial support for intersection safety improvements at Highways 207 and 206 along Highway 15 under the Provincial Territorial Base Fund.

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.

• Winnipeg - Manitoba Centennial Centre Refurbishment
• Winnipeg - United Way Headquarters
• Winnipeg - Winnipeg Harvest Community Food Distribution & Training Centre
• Brandon - Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium
• Winnipeg - Salvation Army Multicultural Family Centre

To date, 29 projects with a joint federal-provincial investment of $177.5 million have been approved under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund in Manitoba. Projects include important investments in provincial highway, parks and trails, and cultural infrastructure, as well as in municipal and not-for-profit sector assets.