Transportation and Works
April 30, 2010Canada 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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