Minister announcing online applications for capital works projects

Today, Municipal Affairs Minister Jack Byrne announced a new electronic system for capital works applications that should streamline the approvals process.

"This is a great initiative that will improve the quality of applications thanks to a series of checks and balances incorporated into the software," stated Minister Byrne. "Through the use of an online application form, municipalities and their consultants will benefit from an accelerated approvals process. This new system will also provide a means for applicants to update priorities for capital works funding through an electronic medium."

Under this new applications process, the province welcomes the assistance of the federal government, which will support this initiative by distributing the online application form through the use of its own Shared Information Management System for Infrastructure (SIMSI). SIMSI is a secure, user-friendly, bilingual, Web-based information management system that enables municipal governments to apply online for project funding.

"Government is committed to finding ways to accelerate capital works project approvals," stated Minister Byrne. "It is a request we hear time and time again and it is a high priority for us. The coming launch of this online application form is just part of our ongoing efforts to achieve that goal."

The Department of Municipal Affairs will hold training sessions with municipalities and their consultants in the use of the online application form in the coming weeks. A call for applications will follow soon after. The department expects to begin announcing projects by the end of April. Up to $100 million in capital works projects will be tendered in the coming fiscal year.

Media contact: John Tompkins, Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498 or jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2006 02 13                         10:30 a.m.