FREDERICTON, New Brunswick - The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick announced a final agreement today on a $99 million tri-partite infrastructure program that strongly focuses on environmental benefits for New Brunswickers. The two governments will each provide $33 million to the Canada-New Brunswick Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement. Municipalities with approved projects will cover the remaining one-third bringing the total investment to some $99 million. “This agreement will bring cleaner air, safer water, and better roads to communities across the province,” said John Godfrey, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities). “It implements our government’s New Deal for Cities and Communities which helps to stabilize their funding and get going now on projects that make New Brunswick communities even better places to live.” “Choosing and investing in the right kind of infrastructure is central to making New Brunswick more competitive,” said Premier Bernard Lord. “As a province we are committed to investing in key public infrastructure that improves our quality of life and attracts new investment and people to our province.” “Local leaders best know what their communities need,” said Andy Scott, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for New Brunswick. “As such, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will promote local decision-making across New Brunswick. Through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, we’ll continue to work closely with the province and with community leaders to meet local needs while also meeting national objectives like climate change.” Brenda Fowlie, the New Brunswick Minister of Environment and Local Government, said, “Investments under Canada-New Brunswick Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement will be directed to projects that benefit municipalities, ‘local service districts’ (LSDs), and Rural Communities and any other public authority responsible for delivering services in New Brunswick will have the opportunity to access the funds.” At least 80 per cent of the funding will support “green” projects – those that lead to cleaner air and water, such as improvements to local water and sewer systems. Municipalities can also upgrade their buildings to reduce energy needs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by improving public transit. The fund will also support faster Internet connections as well as cultural, recreational and tourism projects. All municipalities across New Brunswick can apply for support under the shared-cost program. The not-for-profit sector and private sector can also propose projects with the support of a municipal council. A consultative committee will review applications from across the province and make funding recommendations to the governments of Canada and New Brunswick. Up to 1% of the fund will be available to help municipalities improve and increase their capacity to manage their infrastructure assets. This funding could be used, for example, to help communities enhance knowledge of their existing infrastructure assets, better evaluate life-cycle costs associated with the infrastructure they own and operate, better assess the capacity of current infrastructure and identify future needs, better plan and make infrastructure funding decisions, and better train municipal staff in long-term infrastructure management. Interested communities can apply for funding on-line through a password-protected site at www.gnb.ca/0009/0376/0005. Municipalities will shortly receive a letter enclosing their userid and password. Paper versions of the application form and business case will also be available at the Canada-New Brunswick Joint Secretariat at (506) 457-4947. Through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada will invest $1 billion in priority infrastructure projects across Canada. The MRIF builds on the success of the previous $2 billion Infrastructure Canada Program and complements the $4-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which addresses larger infrastructure needs in urban areas. New Brunswick communities and regions have benefited from many infrastructure projects funded through these programs. More information on federal and New Brunswick infrastructure projects can be found at www.infrastructure.gc.ca and www.gov.nb.ca and www.gnb.ca. For more information, media representatives should call: Carla Ventin Office of the Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities) (613) 948-2688 Infrastructure Canada (613) 948-1148 Chisholm Pothier Office of the Premier Government of New Brunswick (506) 444-2286 Jean-Francois Pelletier Department of Environment and Local Government (506) 453-6703Municipalities seeking more information should call: Scot Jennings Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (506) 452-2457Walter Waite Department of Environment and Local Government (506) 457-4947 BACKGROUNDER THE MUNICIPAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND IN NEW BRUNSWICK Project support: $99 million The Canada-New Brunswick Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement (MRIF) will invest $99 million in communities across New Brunswick over five years. The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick are each investing $33 million. The remaining $33 million will come from local governments whose projects win MRIF support. The need The need for this fund is clear. Municipal leaders consistently identify infrastructure as their most pressing issue. Many municipalities must repair or replace roads, water and sewage systems that were put in place decades ago. In high-growth areas, transportation routes are growing congested and municipal services are straining to keep up with demand. Through MRIF and other infrastructure programs, the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick enable municipalities to get going now on projects that otherwise might remain stalled for years. Cleaner air and water The MRIF includes a strong “green” element. At least 80 per cent of the fund will support projects that lead to cleaner air and water. These can include improvements to local systems for water, waste water, solid waste, and environmental energy improvements to municipal buildings. Public transit projects also count as “green,” as they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars. The fund will also invest in local roads, better Internet connections, and infrastructure projects that promote local culture, recreation and tourism. Program Eligibility and Application Information All New Brunswick municipalities are eligible to apply for funding under MRIF. First Nations communities will be eligible for funding through a First Nations Component currently under negotiation. Proposals from not-for-profit and private-sector organizations are also eligible. All project proposals need to be supported by a municipal resolution. Interested communities can apply for funding on-line through a password-protected site at www.gnb.ca/0009/0376/0005. Municipalities will shortly receive a letter enclosing their userid and password. Paper versions of the application form and business case will also be available at the Canada-New Brunswick Joint Secretariat at (506) 457-4947. The MRIF The $1 billion Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund was announced in the 2003 federal budget as a ten-year program. Earlier this year, the Government of Canada moved MRIF to a five-year timeline to respond more quickly to the needs of smaller communities across the country. The MRIF helps balance support for smaller communities with other programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), a $4 billion program that mostly supports bigger projects in larger cities. The MRIF ensures that Canadians benefit from investments in improving the quality of life.
