No. H 037/09
For release - March 12, 2009
Victoria, B.C.— An accelerated investment of $174 million for highway improvements in B.C.'s interior will create jobs, stimulate the economy and improve road safety, announced Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, John Baird, and British Columbia's Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Kevin Falcon today. Construction on the first of the highway projects is expected to begin in the upcoming construction season.
"Only three short months ago I met with my provincial counterparts in Vancouver where we agreed to fast track infrastructure spending, stimulate the economy and create new jobs for Canadians," said Minister Baird. "Today's announcement is a clear example that we are delivering on our promise."
"The B.C. government has been working with the Government of Canada to get these dollars flowing quickly into communities across the province," said Minister Falcon. "Not only are these projects important improvements to safety, they're an important stimulus to local economies, and it's estimated that this investment will create over 1,700 direct and indirect jobs."
The funding will allow for engineering for five highway improvement projects along Highways 1 and 97A in the Southern Interior region of the province to be accelerated, enabling tendering and construction to advance as quickly as possible.
Both the province and the Government of Canada have identified these projects as a priority for infrastructure funding consideration. The federal government is setting aside up to $78 million, which will amount to a maximum of 50 per cent of eligible costs, for these projects. Federal funding is conditional on the projects meeting all federal eligibility requirements of the Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement(s) with the Province of B.C. The B.C. government is contributing over $96 million for these projects.
The Government of Canada is accelerating and expanding recent historic federal investments in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years.
These projects are part of an overall $14 billion capital infrastructure program supported by the province to create jobs and vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.
A backgrounder with further information on the improvements announced today is attached.
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