NLIS 5
November 24, 2005
(Municipal Affairs)
Newfoundland and
Labrador Communities to benefit from $84 million in
federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure investments
The Governments of Canada and
Newfoundland and Labrador today announced the signing of the
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund
Agreement.
The agreement will mean a total investment of up to $84 million for
infrastructure in communities of Newfoundland and Labrador, provided
by federal, provincial and local governments. At least 60 per cent
of the funding available under this agreement will go to �green�
projects that improve the quality of the environment and contribute
to cleaner air, soil and water.
Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, on behalf
of John Godfrey, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities),
and Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency, along with Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, made
the announcement.
�As part of the New Deal for Cities and Communities, the Government
of Canada has committed to ensuring that communities, large and
small, are sustainable, competitive, healthy centres for growth and
innovation,� said Scott Simms. �Through this agreement and the $28
million in federal funding that will flow from it, we are able to
work with the province and communities to address their public
infrastructure needs. This partnership approach is important in
allowing us to support common priorities.�
�Reliable infrastructure is important to ensure the long-term
development and sustainability of municipalities throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador,� stated Minister Jack Byrne. �This
investment demonstrates an important federal, provincial and
municipal partnership that will strengthen infrastructure and
improve services for residents of the province. We are pleased with
the commitment demonstrated to ensure healthy, safe and sustainable
communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.�
A commitment of up to one per cent of funds will be available to
help municipalities improve and increase their capacity to manage
their infrastructure assets. For example, this funding could be used
to help communities enhance knowledge about their infrastructure
assets, better evaluate life-cycle costs associated with
infrastructure they own and operate, better assess the capacity of
current infrastructure and identify future needs, and train
municipal staff in long-term infrastructure management. This
encourages a more efficient and sustainable approach to managing
infrastructure.
The Canada-NL MRIF Agreement will be administered jointly by the
Department of Municipal Affairs on behalf of the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency, on behalf of Infrastructure Canada.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, acting
on behalf of communities, will help set the strategic direction of
the agreement and to identify priorities under the capacity-building
component of the Canada-NL MRIF.
�This program will play a critical role and is essential to ensure
that our communities are strong and vibrant,� said Wayne Ruth,
President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of
Municipalities. �As a result of this agreement, municipalities will
experience positive infrastructure improvements and strengthened
services, which represent an important investment in the long-term
development of municipalities in the province.�
A Web site including information on MRIF, its partners and the
application process can be found at
www.gov.nl.ca/mpa or e-mail
MRIF@gov.nl.ca. For additional
information on this and other infrastructure programs administered
by the Government of Canada, visit
www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
Photo #1 and
#2: (L-R) Wayne Ruth, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador
Federation of Municipalities, Scott Simms,
MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor and Jack Byrne, Minister
of Municipal Affairs.
Ministerial
Statement
Please see the following backgrounder for more information.
Media contact :
Val�rie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241
Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs ACOA
(709) 772-2935
Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
(613) 948-1148
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
(709) 729-1983
BACKGROUNDER
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund is a $1 billion national initiative designed to help meet the
Government of Canada�s commitment to ensure that Canadian
communities, large and small, are sustainable, competitive and
healthy centres for economic growth and innovation.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund Agreement (Canada-NL MRIF) will mean an investment of up to $84
million for municipal and rural infrastructure in this province,
with contributions from federal, provincial and municipal
governments. The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador
will each invest up to $28 million towards the Canada-NL MRIF. The
province may also invest additional funds in MRIF projects.
Municipalities are expected to contribute about $21 million.
The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have also
agreed that at least 60 per cent of the funding available under this
program will go to �green� projects that improve the quality of the
environment and contribute to cleaner air, soil and water. Green
projects include water, wastewater, solid waste, public transit, and
environmental energy improvements. Other eligible project categories
will be local roads, cultural, recreational and tourism
infrastructure, and broadband connectivity.
Project selection for the Canada-NL MRIF will be guided by joint a
federal-provincial management committee. The NLFM has also been
invited to nominate an observer to the management committee to help
set the strategic direction of the agreement, and to identify
priorities for the municipal capacity building component.
The agreement will run from the date of the signing of the agreement
and will end on March 31, 2012.
The MRIF builds on the success and lessons learned from previous
programs, especially the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador
Infrastructure Program, and complements programs such as the Canada
Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which addresses larger infrastructure
needs, primarily in urban areas. The St. John�s Harbour Clean-up is
one example of a project funded under the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund.
For further information on Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador�s
infrastructure programs, visit
www.infrastructure.gc.ca
or www.gov.nl.ca/mpa/ or
e-mail MRIF@gov.nl.ca.
2005 11 24
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