May 18, 1999
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

The following statement was issued today by Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to provide honourable members with an update on the status of the multi-year accelerated capital works program announced in the latest budget. Members will recall that expenditures of $100 million have been allocated for this initiative that will see projects financed on a 50-50 provincial-municipal basis. My department is currently in the process of accepting applications from municipalities for this program.

The primary purpose of this multi-year capital works program is to enable municipalities to complete water and sewer projects at an accelerated pace and to enable them to achieve economies of scale associated with larger infrastructure projects.

Guidelines for this program have been developed in consultation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities. The response to date has been positive. I feel confident that we now have a program that will enable municipalities to complete major infrastructure projects more effectively than would be possible under the traditional municipal capital works programs.

Other positive features associated with this program include increased economic activity in all areas of the province and fully serviced municipalities at an accelerated pace which would result in positive health and environmental benefits.

We have worked hard to build a strong relationship with municipalities in the province. Today's announcement clearly shows that we are listening and it is another example of the cooperation that exists between the provincial government and the Federation of Municipalities, to the benefit of all residents of the province.

1999 05 18 2:15 p.m.