PRIME MINISTER, PREMIER ANNOUNCE 15 NEW PROJECTS

NEWS RELEASE
COMMUNIQUÉ

For Immediate Release
2010PREM0046-000210
March 1, 2010

Office of the Premier
Office of the Prime Minister

PRIME MINISTER, PREMIER ANNOUNCE 15 NEW PROJECTS
hwy, bridge, road upgrades to enhance safety, create jobs

VANCOUVER – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Gordon Campbell today announced support for fifteen new infrastructure projects across British Columbia. Provided for by investments from both the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, these projects will improve highways, local roads and bridges throughout the province, resulting in safer travel for residents and visitors alike.

“Our government is laying the foundations for future economic growth and prosperity in British Columbia,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The infrastructure projects announced today under Canada’s Economic Action Plan will create jobs, providing immediate benefits to British Columbia workers, businesses and communities.”

“This investment is important because not only will it enhance critical transportation infrastructure across the province, it will also put people to work, creating about 220 more direct jobs and building confidence in our communities,” said Premier Campbell. “By working co-operatively with the federal government, local governments and other partners, we’ve invested a total of over $4.4 billion to create over 28,000 jobs across every region of the province since launching the Economic Action Plan.”

The Government of Canada will invest more than $17 million in federal funding for these 15 key infrastructure projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund – a $4-billion initiative under Canada’s Economic Action Plan that supports provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. The Economic Action Plan included new infrastructure funding to stimulate the economy and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.

The provincial contribution of over $16 million is part of a three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which will help build vital public infrastructure in every region of British Columbia. Since October 2008, more than $4.4 billion in funding has been announced for infrastructure projects across British Columbia.

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Contacts:

PMO Press Office

613 957-5555

This document is available at http://pm.gc.ca

Bridgitte Anderson

Press Secretary

Office of the Premier

603 307-7177

BACKGROUNDER

INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND INVESTMENTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects.

Funding is available for two years for projects that can be substantially completed by March 2011.

Including today’s announcement, more than 400 projects have received a total federal investment of more than $470 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia. The Province has provided $430 million in matching contributions. Including local governments and other funding partners, a total of $1.3 billion has been committed through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for projects in B.C.

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund complements existing federal infrastructure funding by focussing on short-term objectives for economic stimulus. To further this goal of rapid economic stimulus, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund will focus on construction-readiness as an important project selection criterion. The full $4 billion will be distributed in fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Projects will focus largely on the rehabilitation of existing assets such as water, wastewater, public transit, highways, roads, culture, parks and trails.

For provincial projects, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute up to fifty per cent of eligible costs. For municipal projects, the federal and provincial governments will contribute up to two-thirds of eligible costs, with municipalities expected to contribute one-third.

The Fifteen Projects

The governments of Canada and British Columbia today announced support for fifteen infrastructure projects across the province. Valued at more than $35.4 million, these projects will improve highways, local roads and bridges across British Columbia, resulting in safer travel for residents and visitors alike. The Government of Canada is committing more than $17 million and the Province of British Columbia more than $16 million. The remaining funds will be provided by local governments and partners in British Columbia.

Project Name	Community	Federal Share	Provincial Share	Eligible Costs
Highway 99 Rapid Bus – Northbound – King George Highway To Highway 91	Surrey	$6,500,000	$6,500,000	$13,000,000
Highway 17 – 28^th Avenue Overpass	Delta	$2,387,500	$2,387,500	$4,775,000
Highway 1: Anderson River Bridge	Boston Bar	$1,800,000	$1,800,000	$3,600,000
Highway 1: Silverhope East And Silverhope West Overpasses	Hope	$616,500	$616,500	$1,233,000
Highway 3: Paulson Bridge To Avalanche Gate	Christina Lake	$1,125,000	$1,125,000	$2,250,000
Highway 7b/7 - Mary Hill Bypass/Port Coquitlam	Port Coquitlam	$832,500	$832,500	$1,665,000
Highway 19: Mohun Bridge And Lukwa River Bridge	Campbell River	$414,000	$414,000	$828,000
Highway 99: Regional Boundary To Long Cayoosh Bridge	Pemberton/ Lillooet	$990,000	$990,000	$1,980,000
Knight Street Bridge Seismic Upgrade*	Richmond/ Vancouver	$1,045,000	$2,090,000*	$3,135,000
Snaking River Forest Service Road upgrade	West of Quesnel in the Nazko area	$180,000	$220,000	$400,000
Driftwood Forest Service Road relocation and realignment	Fort St. James	$237,750	$284,500	$522,250
Michelle Baezaeko Forest Service Road upgrade	West of Quesnel in the Nazko area	$104,000	$104,000	$208,000
Michelle Coglistiko Forest Service Road upgrade	West of Quesnel in the Nazko area	$230,000	$270,000	$500,000
Ridler Forest Service Road construction	Burns Lake	$150,000	$150,000	$300,000
Florence Lake Forest Service Road	Mission area	$510,000	$510,000	$1,020,000

* Amount of $2,090,000 to be provided by Translink toward eligible project costs.

The provincial contribution is part of a three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which will help build vital public infrastructure in every region of British Columbia. Since October 2008, more than $4.4 billion in funding has been announced for infrastructure projects across British Columbia.