Transportation and Works
Municipal Affairs
Education
Health and Community Services
Environment and Conservation
Justice
Natural Resources
March 29, 2010

The Williams Government is continuing to stimulate and diversify Newfoundland and Labrador's economy through unprecedented levels of infrastructure spending. Building upon a foundation that was cemented with last year's record infrastructure funding, Budget 2010 allocates $1 billion for provincial infrastructure investments, for a total infrastructure strategy valued at more than $5 billion over the next several years.

This funding in infrastructure projects will benefit all regions of the province, and represents a new record for infrastructure spending. This investment is expected to generate 7,740 person years of employment in the 2010-11 fiscal year and builds upon the more than $2 billion that has been invested in provincial infrastructure over the past six years.

"Our government has a vision for a strong and prosperous tomorrow for the people of our province," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. "By looking forward and anticipating the needs of future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we are making the right investments to ensure that our children and grandchildren will inherit a diversified, resilient economy along with the quality public infrastructure needed to support it. Here, and around the globe, economies are recovering from a recession and, rising out of that period of uncertainty, we are ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador is well positioned to grasp emerging opportunities. Because we embarked early on an aggressive infrastructure strategy, we were positioned better than most to weather the economic downturn."

Budget 2010 will include significant investments in public buildings, transportation, justice, environment and conservation, and Newfoundland Labrador Housing infrastructure, as well as in municipal, education and health infrastructure.

Transportation and Works
Budget 2010 provides $367.7 million for various infrastructure initiatives through the Department of Transportation and Works which include:

Roads
Budget 2010 provides $177.7 million in provincial funding for road and bridge expenditures throughout the province. This Provincial Government investment will be supplemented by an additional $57.9 million in Federal Government funding for a total road and bridge investment of $235.6 million which includes:

• The Provincial Roads Improvement Program and improvements to the Trans Canada Highway/National Highway System;
• Funding for the Conception Bay South Bypass extension, Team Gushue Highway extension and completion of the Torbay Bypass;
• Funding to begin replacement of the Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge in Placentia;
• Funding to begin replacement of the Kenmount Road (Donovan's) overpass; and,
• Funding to continue with widening and hard-surfacing Phase I, and to complete Phase III, of the Trans Labrador Highway.

Buildings
$35.5 million is provided for alteration, improvement and new development of public buildings including:

• Funding to continue with exterior renovations and window system replacement in the Confederation Building, East Block;
• Funding to begin redevelopment of the Sir Richard Squires Building in Corner Brook;
• The construction of new office buildings at various highways depots; and,
• The construction of a new weigh scale inspection facility on the Trans Labrador Highway near Wabush.

• $55 million is provided to continue with the vessel replacement strategy;
• $12.5 million for ferry vessel refits; and,
• $5 million for maintenance and upgrades to ferry terminals.

• $8 million is provided for the purchase of a new air ambulance to replace the current air ambulance in St. John's; and,
• $50.3 million towards the purchase of four new waterbomber aircraft (as announced in October 2009), two of which will be received this year.

Other investments include $10 million for heavy equipment acquisitions and $1.5 million in Provincial Government contribution to the ongoing Deer Lake Airport runway extension, which is being cost-shared between the Provincial and Federal Governments and the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority Inc.

Municipal Affairs
Budget 2010 provides $135.5 million in provincial investment for municipal infrastructure. This will leverage an additional $53.4 million in federal funding provided under the various federal/provincial cost-shared agreements for a total municipal infrastructure program budget of $188.9 million – an increase of approximately $34 million over Budget 2009. With municipal contributions factored in, the total investment in municipal infrastructure in the province in 2010-11 is anticipated to be the largest in history at approximately $225 million.

Education
$183.6 million will be invested in Budget 2010 for new and continued infrastructure projects, which includes $34.3 million for repairs and maintenance throughout the education system.

Health and Community Services
Budget 2010 includes $208.9 million for health infrastructure. The total figure includes $177.3 million for new facilities and equipment and $31.6 million for repairs and renovations.

Environment and Conservation
Budget 2010 provides $3.6 million for the replacement of the Crabbes River Bridge structure, part of the T'Railway Provincial Park. A further $1.6 million is allocated for year one of a master plan for Salmonier Nature Park, which will include the construction of a visitor centre at the park and upgrades to the existing buildings and trail infrastructure.

Justice
$15.9 million is provided to continue with the redevelopment of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Headquarters located at Fort Townshend.

Newfoundland Labrador Housing
Through Budget 2010, $27 million in Provincial Government funding is provided for Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation infrastructure projects, affordable housing and increased maintenance funding.

Nalcor Energy
In addition to the Provincial Government's record infrastructure funding through Budget 2010, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, a subsidiary of Nalcor Energy, will provide economic stimulus through infrastructure investments in 2010 of approximately $53 million.

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