No. H 081/09
For release - June 7, 2009
OTTAWA — The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and the Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, today announced that the Government of Canada will invest up to $1 million for improvements to the Canadian Customs Plaza at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Government of Canada is investing in the Peace Bridge to provide much needed stimulus and economic activity in the area," said Minister Nicholson. "As a key component of the Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor, it will also support international trade with the United States and contribute to Canada's long-term economic prosperity."
The Peace Bridge is the third-busiest Canada-United States commercial truck crossing. This project includes the construction of a fifth primary inspection lane and booth for Canada-bound commercial vehicles. These improvements will reduce traffic congestion, facilitate local border crossings and complement recent and planned investments by the United States for America's side of the border.
The federal contribution of $1 million through Canada's Economic Action Plan represents 50 percent of the total eligible costs. This contribution will be matched by an equivalent contribution by the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority. Construction is schedule to begin in September 2009 and to be completed in February 2010.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
A backgrounder with more information on the Peace Bridge is attached.
– 30 –
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ 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 Peace Bridge was completed and officially opened to traffic in June 1927, connecting Fort Erie, Ontario to Buffalo, New York. Its name came from the commemoration of more than 100 years of peace between the United States and Canada. It is a premier international border crossing providing access to many world-renowned travel destinations in the Golden Horseshoe, the Greater Toronto Area and New York State.
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority maintains the Peace Bridge. The Authority's mission is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sensitive, and cost-effective channel for international travellers, and to positively impact trade and tourism locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
The proposed $2 million Peace Bridge Commercial Lane Traffic Improvements project would construct a fifth primary inspection lane and booth for Canada-bound commercial vehicles and a designated area for VACIS (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System) inspections. The federal contribution of $1 million, through the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund, represents 50 percent of the total eligible costs. Construction at the Peace Bridge is scheduled to begin in September 2009 and to be completed in February 2010.
In 2008, the Peace Bridge was the third-busiest commercial truck crossing, with two-way traffic totaling 1,230,000 trucks.
June 2009
