NEWS RELEASE COMMUNIQUÉ

For Immediate Release 2009TRAN0052-000728 April 7, 2009	Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Government of Canada
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS BENEFIT NORTH THOMPSON REGION

BARRIERE – Residents of the Kamloops-North Thompson region will benefit from joint federal and provincial funding to improve a local highway, announced Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger today. 

 

            This project will improve travel and safety conditions, increase transportation efficiency and is expected to create more than 30 direct jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest.

 

            “Not only is this improvement important for safety for our travelling residents and public but this highway project is an important part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan providing employment during these challenging times,” said McLeod.

 

            “Together the provincial and federal governments are providing $6 million to improve our local highways, upgrade our roads and create jobs,” said Krueger. “As B.C. continues to develop, we place increasing demands on our highways. This funding helps us respond to the current upgrading needs in our community, while preparing for future growth.”

 

            The project includes adding a two-kilometre passing lane and making intersection improvements on Highway 5 at Walterdale Road, approximately 40 kilometres north of Kamloops near Barriere.

 

            The Government of British Columbia has identified these projects for funding consideration. Federal funding is conditional on the projects’ meeting all federal eligibility requirements.

 

            These projects are part of an overall, three-year $14-billion capital infrastructure program (www.gov.bc.ca/infrastructure) supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

 

Beyond today’s announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced in Budget 2009, is a balanced stimulus plan that includes massive investments in infrastructure, tax relief and transfers. This plan will provide close to $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years, which will address needs in communities across Canada, as well as contributing to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit. This money is already at work in B.C. through federal support to the provincial Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion programs.

 

For more information, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.

 

 

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Media contact:	Jeff Knight Communications Manager Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.