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Transportation and Works
April 30, 2010

Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Invest in Important Infrastructure Initiatives; Happy Valley-Goose Bay Airport will be Expanded

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced that the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are investing more than $31 million to expand the Happy Valley-Goose Bay airport and make improvements along the Trans Labrador and Trans Canada Highways.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to be investing in these projects, which will support Newfoundland and Labrador's economy and improve infrastructure for years to come," said Minister MacKay. "The expansion of Happy Valley-Goose Bay airport and improvements to highways are among many investments under Canada's Economic Action Plan that are creating jobs in communities across the province."

"The infrastructure funding we are announcing today will have significant impacts across the province, but especially in Labrador," said Minister Hedderson. "The expansion to the Happy Valley-Goose Bay air terminal, and continuing work to the Trans Labrador Highway are key steps in transforming transportation in Labrador."

"The announcement of this strategic investment by the federal and provincial governments in the expansion and upgrade of the air terminal building will not only position Happy Valley-Goose Bay for future economic growth but also improve the critical services the Corporation provides to the region as a whole," said Mr. Paul Snelgrove, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Goose Bay Airport Corporation.

By investing in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay air terminal expansion, the governments are helping to accommodate the heavy passenger traffic volume passing through the airport daily. The total eligible cost for this initiative is $12.35 million, which is being cost-shared between the Federal Government, the Provincial Government and the Goose Bay Airport Corporation.

The funding announced today will also support upgrades to the Trans Labrador Highway between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush, the construction of a diversion at the Pinware River on Route 510 along the Trans Labrador Highway in southern Labrador, and the replacement of the Little Barachois River Bridge on the Trans Canada Highway in southwestern Newfoundland.

Under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial-Territorial Base Funding Agreement, Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a total of $175 million from the Government of Canada for core infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater, green energy, and regional and community airports.

The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years, between 2009 and 2011.

For further information on infrastructure projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd
Communications Specialist
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 631-8465
blairmedd@gov.nl.ca

James Kusie
Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Goose Bay Airport Corporation
6 Vulcan Drive
Happy Valley-Goose Bay
709-896-5445

2010 04 30                                                       11:10 a.m.
 


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