Province offers $4.5 million to Labrador City,
$1.7 million to Wabush for Multi-Year Capital Works Agreements

Ernest McLean, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, on behalf of Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced today an offer of some $4.5 million to Labrador City and $1.7 million to Wabush for Multi-Year Municipal Capital Works Agreements.

"Government is pleased to be able to provide the communities of Labrador West with this offer," said Minister McLean. "It demonstrates the province�s ongoing commitment to improving infrastructure throughout Labrador."

Discussions with municipalities and the finalization of priority lists will be completed within weeks. Details of individual projects that will be completed under this specific agreement will be announced during the official signing between the municipalities and the province.

Government has committed more than $100 million over three years for the Multi-Year Municipal Capital Works Program, which will be cost-shared on a 50/50 basis with larger municipalities.

This Multi-Year Municipal Capital Works Program is the first of three infrastructure and capital works programs committed for the next three years, representing a total investment of $261 million. Projects for this year�s Municipal Capital Works Program, which is cost-shared between the provincial and municipal governments, are expected to be announced in a few weeks. Projects approved under the Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program, which is cost-shared between the provincial, federal and municipal governments, will be announced in accordance with the federal-provincial agreement.

Media contact: Bert Pomeroy, Communications, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, (709) 896-3099.

2002 05 09                         12:40 p.m.