Governments of Canada and Ontario to Improve Highway 11/17 as Priority Under Building Canada Plan
News Release
Kenora, Ontario, July 24, 2008 - The governments of Canada and Ontario identified safety improvements on Highway 17 in northwestern Ontario, including Highway 11/17 (the Thunder Bay Expressway) as a priority under Building Canada, the Government of Canada's long-term infrastructure plan. This project will also involve the widening of the highway, by creating new passing lanes and extensions to existing passing lanes.
The Honourable Vic Toews, President of Treasury Board, the Honourable Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and the Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, participated in today's announcement.
At the same time today, the governments of Canada and Ontario signed the Building Canada Framework Agreement worth more than $6.2 billion. The Plan will help address infrastructure needs and priorities in Ontario until 2014.
"These improvements are important for families and businesses both in Ontario and Manitoba," Minister Toews said. "They will mean more efficient inter-provincial travel, trade and commerce for everyone who relies on these highways to transport goods and services or take a weekend trip to the cottage."
"We are pleased the federal government is joining us in supporting initiatives that will greatly improve safety along this very important highway," said Minister Gravelle. "This new federal commitment will augment the Ontario government's $1.8 billion Northern Ontario Highways Strategy. It will also begin to address recommendations of Dr. Robert Rosehart in his Northwestern Ontario Economic Facilitator Report."
"This announcement is very good news for northwestern Ontario, it will improve the quality of life of all Ontarians by increasing transportation safety and efficiency, reducing bottlenecks and congestion and minimizing environmental impacts. It also builds on our commitment to provide safe and efficient roads to support healthy cities and communities across the province," said MP Comuzzi.
The Framework Agreement sets the stage for a collaborative investment in the infrastructure needs in Ontario. Under this Agreement, approximately $3.09 billion from the Building Canada Fund, a centrepiece of the overall plan, will go towards infrastructure initiatives in Ontario through two components: more than $2.73 billion in funding will support larger-scale projects; while under the Communities Component, $362 million in funding will be available for partnership investments in communities with populations less than 100,000. Ontario will match federal funding, meaning that more than $6 billion will be made available for Ontario communities.
Subsequent project approvals will also be subject to the signing of a contribution agreement detailing specific project elements and capital costs to the mutual satisfaction of Canada and Ontario, securing any necessary federal and provincial Treasury Board approvals and the successful conclusion of any necessary environmental assessments.
Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada 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.
For further information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
For further information contact:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Anne-Marie Flanagan
Minister's Office
Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
416-327-0655
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
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