The Town of Bay Roberts will undertake a $236,850 upgrade to its municipal sewage system with federal and provincial contributions under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).

"Infrastructure projects such as this go beyond the obvious improvements to pipes and water systems," said Avalon Member of Parliament Fabian Manning on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "They support economic development and provide higher quality of life for our citizens."

"Quality municipal infrastructure is essential to sustaining communities and regions," said the Honourable John Ottenheimer, acting Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This substantial funding, and the spirit of cooperation between municipal, provincial and federal governments which it represents, are essential to our collective efforts to renew and expand infrastructure."

The project will see the complete replacement of the leaking forcemain in the Crossroads/Water Street area that was a major problem for the community. "The Town of Bay Roberts has outlined this project as a top priority," said Mayor Glen Littlejohn. "The leakage is a significant financial concern and a serious environmental issue, so we are pleased to be able to get this done in a timely manner."

The federal and provincial contributions under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador MRIF for this project include $78,950 from the Government of Canada and $79,740 from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Town of Bay Roberts will contribute $78,160 toward the project.

The $84 million, six-year Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador MRIF Agreement is administered jointly by the Department of Municipal Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of Infrastructure Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, acting on behalf of communities, helps set the strategic direction of the agreement and identify priorities under the capacity-building component of the agreement.

For more information on MRIF, visit //www.mpa.gov.nl.ca/mpa/mrifa/default.htm or e-mail MRIF@gov.nl.ca. For additional information on this and other infrastructure programs administered by the Government of Canada, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.

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2006 10 27                                               4:00 p.m.