Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program funding for Gander district

Sandra C. Kelly, MHA for Gander district, today announced funding under the Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program (CNIP) for a joint sewage treatment plant project for the towns of Appleton and Glenwood. Ms. Kelly was joined at the news conference by Derm Flynn, Mayor of Appleton; Janet Shaw, Mayor of Glenwood; and Carl Tessier, of the Gander River Management Association.

Ms. Kelly announced that the towns of Appleton and Glenwood will receive $160,000 in funding for engineering and design work on a sewage treatment plant project for this year. Funding will be cost-shared by the towns, the provincial and federal governments. This is part of a larger $3.36 million project which is anticipated to be completed in two phases.

"I�m extremely pleased that Minister Oliver Langdon and the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs have recognized the importance of this project to the towns of Appleton and Glenwood," said Ms Kelly. Funding allocated under the CNIP will ensure proper sewer treatment in Appleton and Glenwood and demonstrates government�s overall commitment to municipal infrastructure projects in the province.

"This project is one of the biggest accomplishments of my political career and is extremely important to the towns of Appleton and Glenwood, and for the whole region. This is a major priority for my constituents of Glenwood and Appleton as well as users of the Gander River," said Ms. Kelly. The Gander River is important to the environment and to the local economy, providing 110 jobs on the river alone. I have been lobbying for this project for years and I am pleased to see that government had made the first step towards the completion of this project."

Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Oliver Langdon and Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) recently announced 125 CNIP projects in 108 communities, as part of a multi-year cost-shared agreement between the Government of Canada, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and municipalities. Of the $35.6 million committed to the program this year, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute $17.5 million. The federal government will contribute $11.8 million, and municipalities $6.2 million.

The Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program is part of a three-pronged approach to municipal infrastructure, which will see $261 million invested in Newfoundland and Labrador by the three levels of government over the next three years. The program is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and provincially by the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-6573.

2002 06 21                            2:15 p.m.