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September 14, 2009

Premier Announces Unique Facility for St. Anthony Region
With Multimillion-dollar Investment

Students and residents in the St. Anthony area will enjoy a brand new school facility and a new arena to be constructed and attached to the new school, with an estimated investment by the Provincial Government of over $28 million. The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was in St. Anthony today to announce that tenders have been called for site work to begin adjacent to the existing St. Anthony Elementary. The Premier was joined by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, and the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for The Straits-White Bay North.

"From schools to health care facilities to roads, our government is building our province�s infrastructure, particularly in rural communities," said Premier Williams. "In fact, more than 80 per cent of government expenditures have been in rural Newfoundland and Labrador since we formed government in 2003. This new facility is yet another example of our commitment to ensuring our residents have high quality facilities and services. The school will provide an outstanding learning environment for our students, and the new arena will contribute to the social and economic growth of the area and promote sports, fitness and active lifestyles among residents."

Funding for the new arena, which will have seating capacity for 540 and an indoor walking track, will be cost-shared with the municipal and federal governments. The Provincial Government has also agreed to take on its share of 90 per cent of costs of the $1.2 million over run.

The new K-12 school will include a large gymnasium, a commercial kitchen and lunchroom, a skilled trades suite, computer, music and home economics rooms, a resource centre and student support services suite. All instructional areas will be wired for the latest technologies. It will be fully ventilated and accessible to persons with disabilities.

"Government is investing $121.5 million in the K-12 system this year alone for repairs and maintenance, extensions and new school construction to ensure our students are in safe, healthy learning environments," said Minister King. "Once complete the new school for the St. Anthony area will be one of the most modern schools in the province and will have the resources students need to succeed in their post-secondary education and beyond."

"The new arena will be an important addition to the Town of St. Anthony and surrounding communities, providing a venue to promote healthy living, and support recreational programming," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This investment supports our government�s efforts to strengthen services, and improve municipal infrastructure in communities throughout the province. The arena will improve recreational infrastructure and will be a new modern facility to support active lifestyles on the Northern Peninsula. "

As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest approximately $800 million in infrastructure projects across the province this year.

"This government is once again illustrating its remarkable commitment to making strategic investments in infrastructure projects on the Northern Peninsula," said Minister Taylor. "The construction of a new school in St. Anthony will foster an improved learning experience for students in my district. Additionally, linking the school to the new arena will certainly emphasize the importance of healthy living. Coupled with investments like the recent announcement of $10 million for Holson Forest Products in Roddickton and more than $16 million for road work, our government has proven that we indeed have never forgotten the people of the Great Northern Peninsula."

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Media contacts:

Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Roger Scaplen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 727-0991
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@go.nl.ca
Jennifer Tulk
Communications Specialist
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 693-4908
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
  
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
 

2009 09 14                                                      10:45 a.m.
 


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