$7.1 million offered to the Town of Conception Bay South
under the Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs; Terry French, MHA for the District of Conception Bay South; and Elizabeth Marshall, MHA for the District of Topsail, announced today that $7.1 million has been offered to the Town of Conception Bay South under the Multi-Year Capital Works Program.

"The residents of Conception Bay South will see a number of improvements in their municipal infrastructure," said Minister Byrne. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to enter into this multi-year agreement with Conception Bay South. Although not identified under this agreement, the pool retrofit project will be given further consideration once additional information has been provided to the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. I look forward to seeing this information."

MHA Terry French said, "This is wonderful news for the Town of Conception Bay South. Residents in my district will certainly benefit from the number of improvements to the town�s infrastructure. This announcement today is an indication of the strong commitment the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has made towards quality municipal infrastructure."

MHA Elizabeth Marshall said, "I am very pleased that government has offered this funding to residents of Conception Bay South. Residents will see a number of improvements to their municipal services as a result of this Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement."

"We have tried to strike a good balance for projects that we would like to see completed under this three-year agreement," said Ronald Smith, mayor of Conception Bay South. "That is why we have committed $3 million to water and sewer improvements and $3 million for roads. We have also set aside $1.1 million for a main waterline which will see an improvement in flow and water pressure. Our council is anticipating additional cost-shared funding under this agreement in the near future for the CBS pool retrofit project. We are extremely pleased that we will be able to carry out these much-needed infrastructure improvements for our residents."

The provincial government has committed $85 million under the 2005-2008 Multi-Year Capital Works Program. This program is cost-shared on a 50/50 basis between the provincial government and larger municipalities.

In total, combined with the Municipal Capital Works Program and the Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program, governments have committed $140 million for municipal infrastructure. It is estimated that these programs will create approximately 90,000 person weeks of employment throughout the province.

Media contact:
  Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983, 682-6593
  Terry French, MHA, Conception Bay South, (709) 729-5907
  Elizabeth Marshall, MHA, Topsail, (709) 729-3124
  Ronald Smith, Mayor, Town of Conception Bay South, (709) 834-6500

2005 03 24                2:20 p.m.