Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will soon see improvements to their roads and highways thanks to the first federal payment made today under the Provincial-Territorial (PT) Base Funding Agreement of Building Canada, the Government of Canada�s infrastructure plan. The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Transportation and Works for Newfoundland and Labrador, participated in today�s announcement.

This year, Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador will collectively provide $50 million towards the province�s annual capital plan, which includes a number of highway infrastructure upgrades throughout the province. Funding will go towards the next phase of widening and hard-surfacing the Trans Labrador Highway, a new bypass road at Daniel�s Harbour, as well as rehabilitation on several routes throughout the province, including Route 2, Route 430, and sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.

"These highway initiatives show our government�s commitment to strengthening core infrastructure clear across Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Hearn. "We are investing in initiatives that will have a tangible impact on quality of life for people in these communities, and will help keep our people and goods moving safely and on time."

"The Provincial Government is very pleased to contribute our half of this $50 million fund for road infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador and we�re eager to get started on the projects," said Minister Whalen. "This year a record $182 million is being invested in our province�s roads, including an unprecedented $73 million in the Provincial Roads Improvement Program."

The funding follows the signing of a PT Base Funding Agreement between the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of the agreement, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will receive $25 million annually from the Government of Canada, for a total of $175 million through to 2014 for core infrastructure priorities that are identified in the annual capital plan of the province. The initiatives announced today are being funded from the first year annual payment of the program. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will match the federal contribution.

Money from the PT Base Funding Agreement will flow up-front and on a regular, predictable basis. Provinces and territories will be able to pool, bank, borrow against and cash manage these financial resources.

Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.

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For further information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca

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