Infrastructure Investments Stand Strong for Real and Lasting Economic Benefits
The Provincial Government continues to build and maintain infrastructure through an investment of more than $1 billion in Budget 2011. This funding will benefit all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and will serve as the cornerstone of a strong and vibrant economy well into the future as part of an ongoing multi-year infrastructure strategy currently valued at more than $5 billion.
Infrastructure investments in 2011-12 are expected to generate 7,680 person years of employment. This will help strengthen the economy and provide further opportunities for the province’s strong and productive labour force.
“Through our infrastructure strategy, we are building a strong foundation for future prosperity in Newfoundland and Labrador while addressing an infrastructure deficit inherited by our government after years of neglect,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. “The economies that thrive are those that have the necessary infrastructure to support and encourage economic growth and opportunity. We stood strong in the face of a global economic recession and we have made strategic investments in public infrastructure to both create jobs and lay out a firm base upon which to build a bright and prosperous future for generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Budget 2011 has significant infrastructure investments spanning multiple Provincial Government departments and agencies including: Transportation and Works; Municipal Affairs; Education; Health and Community Services; Justice; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Tourism, Culture and Recreation; Environment and Conservation and, Newfoundland Labrador Housing. The $1 billion provided in Budget 2011 for provincial infrastructure includes the investments outlined below and other ongoing infrastructure initiatives in 2011-12.
Transportation and Works
Budget 2011 provides Provincial Government funding of $343.8 million for
various infrastructure initiatives through the Department of Transportation
and Works which include:
Roads
Provincial Government funding of $216.4 million is allocated for road and
bridge improvements. This funding will be supplemented by an additional
$35.2 million in Federal Government funding, providing for a total road and
bridge investment in 2011-12 of $251.6 million which includes:
Buildings
$38.7 million is provided for alteration, improvement and new development of
public buildings including:
Marine
Air
Other investments include:
Municipal Affairs
Budget 2011 provides $140.8 million for new and ongoing municipal
infrastructure projects. As well, Budget 2011 commits $30 million for
recreational and multi-purpose facilities, which will be used to leverage
additional funding from other sources, and will be spent over the
construction life of the projects. When the provincial contribution to
municipal infrastructure is combined with federal cost-shared programs and
municipal contributions, the total investment in Newfoundland and Labrador
for 2011-12 is expected to be approximately $219 million.
Education
$166.5 million will be invested in Budget 2011 for new and continued
infrastructure projects, and for repairs and maintenance throughout the K-12
and post-secondary education systems.
Health and Community Services
Budget 2011 continues the Provincial Government’s significant commitment to
health infrastructure with an investment of $272.2 million for health
infrastructure. The total figure includes $200.6 million for new
construction and redevelopment; $50 million for new equipment; and, $21.6
million for repairs and renovations.
Justice
Budget 2011 provides $16.9 million for the redevelopment of the Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary Headquarters located at Fort Townshend in 2011-12.
The total cost of the project is $50 million with construction expected to
be completed by 2014-15.
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Budget 2011 provides more than $9 million for aquaculture wharves. This
includes $6.3 million for the completion of wharves in Pool’s Cove and
Hermitage and the construction of new wharves in Belleoram and Harbour
Breton. Also included is $2.8 million for the upgrade of wharves in St.
Alban’s and Milltown which were transferred with funding to the province
from the Federal Government as part of Transport Canada’s Port Divestiture
Program.
Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Budget 2011 allocates $2.8 million toward the restoration of the Colonial
Building in St. John’s, with additional funding to be leveraged from other
sources.
Environment and Conservation
Budget 2011 provides $4 million in funding for improvements to Salmonier
Nature Park. The improvements, announced in Budget 2010, will include the
construction of a new visitor centre, animal care building and technical
services building.
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
Under the goals outlined in the Provincial Social Housing Plan for
Newfoundland and Labrador, Secure Foundations, Budget 2011 provides $25.9
million for renovations and improvements, affordable housing, and
maintenance through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. This
funding includes $1.2 million to construct four public housing units for low
income residents requiring smaller housing units in Hopedale, Labrador.
In addition to the $1 billion in provincial infrastructure funding in Budget 2011 noted above, infrastructure investments through Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, a subsidiary of Nalcor Energy, in 2011-12 will total $65 million and provide additional economic stimulus.
Budget 2011 also provides $2.3 million to co-locate the Avalon regional Government Service Centre headquarters, currently located in St. John’s, with the Motor Registration Division in Mount Pearl. The co-location will strengthen the “one-stop” service approach for accessing a wide range of direct government services for residents of the region. This move will also bring the Consumer Affairs Division which is responsible for residential tenancies and consumer affairs activities under the same roof.
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Media contacts:
Roger Scaplen Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 697-5267 rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca |
Ken Morrissey Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 685-6612 kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca |
Heather May Director of Communications Department of Education 709-729-0048, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 699-6524 jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca |
Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Department of Justice 709-729-6985, 682-6593 VanessaColmanSadd@gov.nl.ca |
Lori Lee Oates Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 690-8403 oatesll@gov.nl.ca |
Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca |
Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Bradley Power Director of Communications Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment 709-729-0753, 699-5707 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Heather Maclean Director of Communications Department of Natural Resources 709-729-5282, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Government Services 709-729-4860, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
2011 04 19 2:15 p.m.