December 07, 2007
St. Norbert, Manitoba – A new Duff Roblin Park
Reserve will soon be established, thanks to $3.2 million in funding, which
includes a $2.1 million contribution from the Government of Canada and
the Province of Manitoba through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (MRIF). The balance will be provided by the Province of Manitoba.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Doer, Premier
of Manitoba; the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board,
on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s
Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister
of Western Economic Diversification; the Honourable Duff Roblin, former
Premier of Manitoba; and Bill Norrie, Chair of the Floodway Advisory Board.
“At our newest park reserve Manitobans will be able to take advantage
of great recreational opportunities including biking, walking and tobogganing
while at the same time having a bird’s eye view of the impressive
landscape of the expanded Floodway,” said Premier Doer. “We
feel we have created a destination that all Manitobans can be proud of
and will enjoy.”
“Duff Roblin reminds us of what it means to be a visionary,”
said Minister Toews. “A man of action, Duff saw what could be and
inspired a province. The Government of Canada is proud to recognize his
achievements with the new Duff Roblin Park Reserve.”
The existing Duff Roblin Park Reserve, located near Winnipeg’s
north perimeter, commemorates two important Manitoba milestones: the construction
of a flood control system for the City of Winnipeg, and the establishment
of a provincial system of parks. Both were created with the foresight
of the Honourable Duff Roblin, one of Manitoba’s well-respected
politicians, who served as premier from 1958 to 1967.
The new Duff Roblin Park Reserve will be relocated to the Floodway Inlet
Control Structure in St. Norbert as part of the commitment to support
recreational and economic opportunities along an expanded floodway. The
development of the new park will focus on infrastructure components such
as picnic areas and shelters, walking and cycling trails, washrooms, drinking
water, fishing facilities, bike racks, a toboggan run, parking lot, and
landscape improvements. Approximately 25,000 Manitoba residents and tourists
are expected to visit the expanded park at its new location.
The initial Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)
agreement, announced in December 2004, invested a total of $120 million
in communities across Manitoba. This year, an additional $25 million is
being provided to MRIF through matching funds from the governments of
Canada, Manitoba and local contributions as part of the commitment to
help small communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This
additional funding will bring the total federal and provincial investment
and matching local contribution in MRIF projects to $145 million.
Of the funds, 80 per cent are earmarked for communities with a population
under 250,000, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated Northern
Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining 20 per
cent of funds are awarded to communities with populations over 250,000.
More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects are
available at: www.infrastructure.gc.ca
and www.infrastructure.mb.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Jana Lerner,
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
Secretariat Website: www.infrastructure.mb.ca
Lee Gregg,
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0701
John Thorpe,
Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-4997
MB Government Website: www.gov.mb.ca
