No. H 175/08
For release - July 24, 2008
KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia will jointly fund up to $231 million worth of National Highway System improvements in the province, under the Building Canada Plan. A number of specific highway improvements will be announced in the coming weeks, demonstrating both governments' commitment to developing world-class infrastructure.
The first project to receive funding involves constructing a 9-kilometre four lane highway west of the existing 2-lane section of Highway 97 between Winfield and Oyama, British Columbia. The federal government will provide up to $33.6 million through the Building Canada Fund, and the Province will contribute $44.3 million toward the total $77.9 million cost. Work is scheduled to be completed by 2012.
Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, along with the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, with the Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia, Ron Cannan, MP for Kelowna-Lake Country, and Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Al Horning, made the announcement today.
"This investment is an outstanding example of our ongoing partnership with the federal government, and our continued commitment to deliver needed road projects throughout the province," said Premier Campbell. "Working with the federal government, we're enhancing B.C.'s highway system to improve safety, enhance the flow of goods and people, and tap into new opportunities in trade and tourism."
"This announcement shows that the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are effectively working together to help move people and goods in British Columbia," said Minister Day. "This funding will not only help promote economic development in this province but will contribute to saving lives and improve the efficiency of the highway system in British Columbia and the National Highway System as a whole."
"These investments position the Government of Canada as a leader in expanding existing infrastructure capacity, reducing congestion, enhancing the safety of Canada's transportation system and improving the flow of people and goods across the country," said Minister Cannon. "These priority projects reflect our government's commitment to infrastructure investments that foster a stronger economy and a cleaner environment."
"The Winfield-Oyama project is terrific news for this growing region," said Minister Falcon. "The road upgrades will improve safety, stimulate further growth in our economy, and help to boost our competitiveness by moving people and goods more efficiently."
"Highway 97 has long been identified as a priority for upgrades to increase safety. Today's investment, along with other federal investments along Highway 97 in the Okanagan Valley, will result in improved safety for motorists," said MP Cannan. "As part of Building Canada, we are investing in infrastructure priorities to increase community safety, help our growing economy, and protect our environment."
"Four-laning this stretch of highway will greatly improve safety and the flow of traffic along this important corridor," said MLA Horning. "As well as improving the flow of commercial traffic, this upgrade will benefit tourism, and spur new economic activity for our region."
Federal funding for these investments comes from the $33-billion Building Canada plan. Through this unprecedented plan, the federal government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.
On November 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed an Infrastructure Framework Agreement under Building Canada worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure initiatives from 2007 to 2014. The two governments also launched on July 7, 2008, a call for infrastructure projects in smaller communities to be funded under this larger plan.
For more information on the Building Canada plan, please visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
A backgrounder with further information is attached.
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Contacts:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Bridgitte Anderson
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604-307-7177
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Dave Crebo
Communications Director
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-387-7787
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the National Highway System in British Columbia, and its ability to handle the ever-increasing volumes of tourism and trade traffic. Along with the Province, Canada will fund improvements to ensure that the condition of the highway system remains consistent with national transportation standards for safety, as well as enhance the efficiency of operations.
These highway improvements are considered essential to increase the safety of the road network in British Columbia and demonstrate the Government of Canada's commitment to developing world-class infrastructure for Canada and Canadians. The upgrades will reduce bottlenecks, and improve the flow of people and goods, providing benefits both regionally and nationally.
Federal funding for these improvements will come from the Building Canada Fund and the Base Funding Programs under the $33-billion Building Canada plan.
The Building Canada Fund advances national priorities that are important to all Canadians: a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and better communities, while addressing local and regional infrastructure needs. The national priority funding categories for the Building Canada Fund are: Core National Highway System, drinking water, wastewater, public transit, and green energy.
Other highway improvements will be supported through the Building Canada plan's Base Fund component, which provides $25 million per year to British Columbia through to 2014.
On November 6, 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed a Framework Agreement that provides approximately $2.2 billion to the province through the federal government's Building Canada plan. This funding will be provided between 2007 and 2014, through various funds, such as the Gas Tax Fund, the Provincial/Territorial Base Funding and the Building Canada Fund
July 2008
