NLIS 4
February 2, 2005
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
New deal for cities and
communities
Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister, Jack
Byrne, is encouraged by news that the federal government is moving forward with
its New Deal for Cities and Communities announced by Federal Minister John
Godfrey yesterday.
"Under this new deal, the province will receive $82.3 million over the next five
years, which we will then channel to municipalities for infrastructure
development," said Minister Byrne. "We will soon engage in bi-lateral
negotiations with the federal government which will give us a clear
understanding of all the terms and conditions which may be attached to this
funding."
The funding will be invested in environmentally-sustainable municipal
infrastructure and is intended to assist communities of all sizes. Further
discussions with the federal government will be necessary to further define what
types of infrastructure will qualify as "environmentally sustainable." Upon full
implementation in year five, the province�s annual entitlement will be
approximately $32.9 million. The amount the province will receive in 2005 will
be determined after the federal budget but, based on a five-year phase-in
period, may be in the range of $10-12 million.
"This new funding, combined with the $140 million federal/provincial/municipal
infrastructure investment, which I announced back in November 2004, will benefit
communities throughout the province," said the minister. "After we receive more
details from the federal government, we will be consulting with the Newfoundland
and Labrador Federation of Municipalities on a strategy for investing in
municipal infrastructure."
For more information, please view the federal news release at the following:
www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/CCP/view/en/index.cfm?articleid=124609&
Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-1983
2005 02 02
3:25 p.m. |