January 21, 2005 Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Communities in rural and northern Manitoba seeking funding for infrastructure projects under the newly announced Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will want to mark two important dates on their calendars. The Honourable Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, and the Honourable Scott Smith, Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, announced an early or interim application intake deadline of March 15, 2005 with a second intake deadline shortly after on June 15, 2005. The first deadline provides a quick response to communities with projects waiting for the new program; the second provides more planning time for those who need it. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis with subsequent intake deadlines set annually on the advice of the program's local consultative committee. All applications remain active until the program's final approval date of March 31, 2010. "We know that long-term infrastructure commitments are key to ensuring that communities are competitive and healthy centres for economic growth, innovation and the well being of all Canadians," said Alcock. "The continued success of infrastructure improvement in Manitoba will ensure the kind of growth in our communities that will serve as a valuable legacy for future generations." "Rural and northern Manitobans are the winners as three levels of government join together to address infrastructure priorities communities have identified," said Smith. "Municipalities and communities will want to get their plans together and submit applications so they can be considered for funding." The governments of Canada and Manitoba will each provide one-third of the eligible cost of local infrastructure projects, while local governments will fund the remaining one-third cost of their approved projects. These investments will be made through the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Programs funded under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. Intake review or deadline dates are based on the recommendation from the Rural/Northern Federal-Provincial-Local Consultative Committee, consisting of local government officials including representatives from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Northern Association of Community Councils, and provides local input on the project selection process. Manitoba local governments, non-profit and private sectors may apply for support for local infrastructure projects. The consultative committee reviews applications from across Manitoba and make funding recommendations. "The AMM is pleased that the two deadlines take into consideration communities who are ready to move ahead with their planned projects, as well as those who need more time to fine-tune their applications," said Ron Bell, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. "Municipalities know that preparation is key when applying for infrastructure funding and this will allow them to prepare their most critical applications for consideration." "Now that we have the intake dates established our northern communities can plan their projects to address critical infrastructure," said Reg Meade, President of the Northern Association of Community Councils and an FPLCC committee member. "This program will mean an increased standard of living in our northern and remote communities and the NACC is pleased to be part of this process." The key priority for the program is green municipal infrastructure in areas such as water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental energy and public transit improvements. Other priorities include local transportation, broadband connectivity, and cultural, recreational and tourism projects. Additional information on the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund can be found on the attached backgrounder. - 30 - For additional information, contact: Mark Gale Communications Manager Western Economic Diversification Canada Tel: (204) 983-6243 E-mail: mark.gale@wd.gc.ca For Applicants Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat (204) 945-1906 Toll free: 1-800-268-4883 Graham Gork, Communications Coordinator Government of Manitoba (204) 945-5795 WD Toll-Free Number 1-888-338-WEST (9378) World Wide Web Site: English: http://www.wd.gc.ca French: http://www.deo.gc.ca Backgrounder The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund in Manitoba Project support: $120 million The Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Programs, funded in part under the federal Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), will invest $120 million in communities across Manitoba over five years. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are each investing $41 million, with matching project funding to come from local governments. 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 Manitoba enable municipalities to undertake infrastructure enhancements that otherwise might remain stalled for years. Cleaner air and water The MRIF includes a strong "green" element. At least 40 per cent of the fund will support projects that lead to cleaner air and water. These can include improvements to local systems for water, wastewater, 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 also provides for investment in other categories such as local roads, better Internet connections, and projects that promote local culture, recreation and tourism. Program eligibility and application information All Manitoba local governments are eligible to apply for funding under MRIF and 80 per cent of funds will be going to communities of less than 250,000 people. All project proposals will need to be supported by a municipal resolution. Not-for-profit and private-sector organizations are also eligible for funding with supportive resolutions from the local government where the project would be located and the organization's board of directors. Applicants are able to submit an application on-line at http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca. Interactive CD and paper applications are also available upon request through the Secretariat by calling at (204) 945-1906 or toll-free at 1-800-268-4883. The Secretariat can also be reached by e-mail at infra@gov.mb.ca. Projects will be selected in a competitive, merit-based manner and in accordance with the mandatory screening and ranking criteria of the project category. These criteria are available at http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca. Efficient management The joint Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat will continue to manage MRIF, process applications and correspond with applicants and recipients through its single-window program delivery model. A consultative committee of local government officials will evaluate applications and provide recommendations to the federal-provincial Management Committee for their consideration. The local officials include representatives of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) and the Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC). The joint Secretariat was established to administer an earlier and similar program, the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program ( http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca). MRIF The $1 billion Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund was announced in the 2003 federal budget as a 10-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. 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. Through CSIF, the Government of Canada announced a $120-million commitment to the expansion of the Red River Floodway. MRIF helps ensure that Canadians benefit from investments in improving the quality of life.
