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Municipal Affairs
July 14, 2009

Government Provides Update on Timelines
Associated with Building Canada Fund Commitment Letters

The Department of Municipal Affairs expects all letters to confirm funding for projects announced through the Building Canada Fund to be released in the coming weeks.

�There are a number of projects which have been identified as priority stimulus projects with federal deadlines of 2011, and these have been the focus of the department to date,� said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. �Once this work on priority projects has been completed, we will be in a position to work on scheduling and cash flows for the remainder of projects which do not have such stringent timelines and which have ample time for project finalization.�

To date, 25 letters of commitment valued at $137 million have been sent to municipalities identified for Building Canada Funding, with 18 more expected to be released in the next few days valued at a further $23.2 million, and letters to confirm funding on all remaining projects sent to all proponents in the next couple of weeks.

�We understand the concerns of municipalities who are anxious to avail of program funding and begin their infrastructure work. We are working as quickly as possible to complete project schedules, plan projects, and cash flows and send out the remaining letters of approval,� said Minister Whalen.

Under various components of the Building Canada Fund, a total of $323 million is being invested by the federal, provincial and municipal governments in 96 community infrastructure projects. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will invest $138.6 million; the Federal Government will contribute $108.4 million, and municipalities will contribute $76 million.

The Provincial Government's infrastructure strategy is valued at more than $4 billion over the next several years. Provincial infrastructure projects totaling $1.6 billion will be tendered this fiscal year, creating an estimated 15,000 jobs (some seasonal) and providing significant economic stimulus to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contact:
Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca

2009 07 14                    2:35 p.m.


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