NLIS 4 October 13, 2000 (Municipal and Provincial Affairs) Infrastructure
Canada-Newfoundland partnership to invest more On behalf of Lucienne Robillard, President of Treasury Board of Canada and Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Westmount-Ville Marie, George Baker, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), with his provincial colleague Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal and Deputy Premier, participated in the formal signing of the six-year Infrastructure Canada-Newfoundland agreement in Gander today. The agreement will mean a total investment of $153.738 million for infrastructure in Newfoundland, with equal contributions from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. The ministers agreed the partnership is an excellent example of how different levels of government can work together for the benefit of Canadians. "The Infrastructure Canada-Newfoundland partnership is a reflection of our shared commitment to building a more dynamic economy, and improving quality of life for Canadians in all parts of Canada," said Minister Baker. "This agreement, like the National Child Benefit, is a good example of partnerships involving different levels of governments and communities," said Minister Joan-Marie Aylward, of the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. "Since there is a finite amount of funding available, we will have to set priorities and we will look to the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities to help us with that task." The first priority for Infrastructure Canada investment in Newfoundland, as in the rest of Canada, is green municipal infrastructure. "Infrastructure Canada evolved from the grassroots, and will continue to do so. Municipalities know their needs best," said Minister Baker, the federal regional minister for Newfoundland. "This agreement will help improve municipal infrastructure throughout the province and could address some of our needs in the areas of water, sewage and waste management," said Minister Tulk. The majority of these projects will be initiated by the municipalities themselves and mechanisms are in place to ensure local government input throughout the life of the program." With the signing of the agreement, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) takes responsibility for federal government involvement in the implementation of Infrastructure Canada in Newfoundland, under the direction of implementing minister Baker, Secretary of State for ACOA. The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs under the direction of Minister Joan-Marie Aylward will be responsible for delivery of the program. The Infrastructure Canada-Newfoundland agreement provides for the establishment of a joint management committee to administer the program and recommend projects for funding. As part of its commitment to undertake initiatives that make a long-term contribution to a dynamic economy, the federal government has allocated $2.65 billion for its share of a new, cost-shared physical infrastructure program. Infrastructure Canada deals with municipal infrastructure. A strategic highways component, with funding of up to $600 million of the total allocation, is administered by Transport Canada. Through the Infrastructure Canada partnership, federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments will invest a total of $6 billion in municipal infrastructure in urban and rural communities across Canada. For additional information, contact: Chantal Scarlett Russell Milon Glenn Bruce BACKGROUNDER
For more information: visit the Infrastructure Canada Web Site: //www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ino-bni Call the Government of Canada Information line (toll-free): 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232), TTY/TDD 1-800-465-7735 2000 10 13 2:50 p.m. |
||
|