Speaking Notes for an Address by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities at the Summerside Chamber of Commerce

May 21, 2008
Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Check Against Delivery

Introduction

I am glad to be here today at the Summerside Chamber of Commerce.

I had the opportunity earlier this morning to enjoy the beautiful waterfront at the Shipyard Market. I know that several years ago, Summerside revitalized the waterfront, which was a significant undertaking. The impressive results demonstrate what a community can accomplish.

I was most impressed with the Shipyard Market building. As the focal point of the waterfront, it captures the history of shipbuilding that contributed significantly to Summerside’s economy in the late 1800s.

And now, as a tourist attraction, the Shipyard Market continues to contribute to Summerside’s economy and adds to the quality of life of Summerside residents.

And as the Chamber of Commerce of Summerside, you already know how important quality of life is for a community. You work hard to create business opportunities and promote economic growth. You work with federal, provincial and municipal partners to ensure community needs are addressed. You represent a population of 15,000 people to create opportunities that make Prince Edward Island a stronger, safer, better province.

Building Canada and GC investments

This government’s unprecedented and historic commitment to infrastructure across the country and in your province means significant infrastructure initiatives that will contribute to a stronger Prince Edward Island economy, more prosperous communities, and a cleaner environment. It means a continuous injection of funds up until 2014, it means projects, job creation, trade and economic opportunities – right here in Prince Edward Island.

We are talking about a $33-billion commitment nation-wide, and with partners and other levels of Government, we expect to see that number go up to $50 billion through 2014.

Our plan, Building Canada, represents our belief in a new kind of federalism—an open federalism that respects jurisdiction and allows each partner the freedom to do what they do best while we work together toward common objectives.

And it’s especially significant for me to talk about open federalism here considering that Charlottetown, which is only a few kilometres away, is the birthplace of Confederation.

Under Building Canada, communities right here in PEI can count on stable, long-term funding to meet their local infrastructure needs.

As shipbuilding was important to an earlier Summerside, so now is modern, efficient infrastructure critical to the city’s success.

Building Canada in PEI

This morning at the Shipyard Market building, Premier Ghiz and I signed the Framework Agreement under our new Building Canada Plan.

Under this Framework Agreement, the Government of Canada is committing $270 million toward infrastructure priorities in the province of Prince Edward Island, up to 2014.

This funding will be matched by the Province and municipalities, depending on the nature of the initiative.

We will work collectively to identify and deliver on those infrastructure needs most critical to Islanders.

An important component of the Building Canada Plan is $25 million in base funding that Prince Edward Island will receive on an annual basis – that’s a total of $175 million over seven years that will go directly toward your infrastructure priorities like water, sewage treatment and green energy.

This base funding provides Island communities with an up-front and regular source of financial support. This funding is also flexible – the annual allocation does not have to be used in the year in which it is provided, allowing Island communities to strategically address their infrastructure priorities.

In this way, the base funding addresses the unique infrastructure challenges of smaller communities. For example, Newfoundland and Labrador is using a portion of its base funding for highway infrastructure upgrades, like the widening and hard-surfacing of a section of the Trans Labrador Highway, as well as rehabilitation on several routes throughout the province, including Route 2, Route 430 and sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Already, we are helping Prince Edward Island communities move forward on several significant initiatives.

For example, through the Gas Tax Fund, we’ve contributed $4.9 million towards the Montague Bridge, which was reopened to motorists last December. In fact Budget 2008 confirmed that the Gas Tax Fund will be extended beyond 2014 and become a permanent measure, providing continuous long-term-predictable funding to municipalities, $2 billion a year nationally.

As well, this morning, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island identified water projects in Tyne Valley, Crapaud and Montague as priorities for funding under the Building Canada Plan. These are only the first of what I believe will be many projects and initiatives to be funded across the island.

And we committed to jointly explore improvements to broadband connectivity on the Island.

Atlantic Gateway

Our Building Canada Plan recognizes the importance of infrastructure in achieving our broader economic and environmental goals. That is why we are investing in national highways and new economic gateways.

Through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, in October 2007, the governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, committed to the development, within two years, of an Atlantic Gateway strategy.

The Atlantic Gateway will have the capacity to handle growing volumes of goods from the world’s largest ships. And our Atlantic Gateway strategy will help us to seize the natural geographical advantages of the region and its transportation assets that will deliver benefits to the Atlantic provinces and to Canada.

Under the MOU, we have acted quickly on international marketing of the Atlantic Gateway. In February 2008, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, led a successful mission to India to raise awareness of the Atlantic Gateway as a competitive connection with North American markets to facilitate new trade and business opportunities; and demonstrate the strong commitment and collaboration between the private sector and the federal and provincial governments.

Other initiatives in PEI

Our government recognizes the importance of good transportation infrastructure for the citizens of Prince Edward Island, and I believe this is demonstrated by our commitment to ensuring the province's transportation infrastructure meets the safety and security needs of the public, and facilitates the movement of goods to, from, and within this province.

For example, earlier this year, public meetings were held to discuss the transfer of the government-owned ports in Georgetown and Summerside. We are currently in discussions with community stakeholders who are interested in managing the facilities.

This is an important part in the process of placing the management of these ports in the hands of the people in the region who know best how to make the port work for their community. We are hopeful these transfers will meet with as much success as the transfers of the ports in Charlottetown and Souris.

In addition, the Government of Canada has just recently renewed an agreement to provide a financial contribution of $1,342,000 to the Province of Prince Edward Island for the provision of ongoing policing services to the Confederation Bridge, including preventive patrolling and timely response to all incidents requiring police presence.

The Government of Canada will also be carrying out a dredging project to ensure safe operation of the Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia ferry service. This dredging project will allow the two ferries, MV Confederation and MV Holiday Island, to continue operating within the existing schedule and under safer conditions.

This work will complement projects already carried out or currently ongoing at the Wood Islands ferry terminal, including rehabilitation of the ferry berth and breakwaters, dredging and shoreline protection.

Conclusion

These are real achievements. And now with the Framework Agreement signed with PEI, as I told the Premier this morning, it is time to roll up our sleeves and continue to work to grow our economy, clean our environment and strengthen our communities.

And with your help, we will continue to deliver on that commitment in a way that gives Islanders the very best value for their hard-earned tax dollars.

Our government is proud to be your partner in building communities that are safer, cleaner, stronger, and more competitive.

Thank you.