Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s offered Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, and Minister Dianne Whalen, MHA for the District of Conception Bay East and Bell Island, announced today that $3.5 million has been offered to the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s under the Multi-Year Capital Works Program.

"The Multi-Year Capital Works Program provides much-needed funding to our larger municipalities so they can complete necessary infrastructure projects," said Minister Byrne. "Infrastructure programs are important not only for improving upon existing infrastructure needs, but also they help grow the economy by promoting job creation."

"I am very pleased that the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s has been offered this funding over the next three years," said Minister Whalen. "This funding is necessary for the town to address their infrastructure priorities. As a former mayor, I personally know how important it is for municipalities to leverage this kind of funding for major infrastructure projects."

"On behalf of the residents of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s, it is our pleasure to accept this agreement," said Norm Collins, mayor of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s. "We will be using the majority of this funding to construct a much-needed waste water treatment facility for Portugal Cove. We have also identified this funding for a water project which will provide better flow and pressure control for our residents."

The provincial government has committed $85 million under the 2005-2008 Multi-Year Capital Works Program. This program is cost-shared on a 50/50 basis between the provincial government and larger municipalities.

In total, combined with the Municipal Capital Works Program and the Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program, governments have committed $140 million for municipal infrastructure. It is estimated that these programs will create approximately 90,000 person weeks of employment throughout the province.

Media contact:
  Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983, 682-6593
  Dianne Whalen, MHA, Conception Bay East and Bell Island, (709) 729-4712
  Norm Collins, Mayor, Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s, (709) 895-8000

2005 03 24                        2:25 p.m.