Residents of Fredericton will soon enjoy an improved walking trail thanks to a contribution from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program, a key Government of Canada economic stimulus initiative under the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), made the announcement today alongside City Mayor Brad Woodside.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to help support important improvements and upgrades to Fredericton’s most widely used recreational infrastructure,” said Minister Ashfield. “Our investment of over $210,000 in the city’s walking trail will help promote healthy, active living among city residents by increasing the trail’s accessibility while generating additional economic activity in the local economy.”
This project will enable the City of Fredericton to improve a section of the walking trail network along the St. John River on the city’s south side. This includes paving an 8.8 km section of the trail, installing lighting, additional benches, as well as enhancing landscaping along the trail. This initiative will help make the trail more accessible and enjoyable for an even greater number of residents and visitors.
“This project follows the recommendations of our Trails & Bikeways Master Plan to create a multi-use trail system that makes it easier for our residents to use non-motorized forms of transportation to get around the city,” said Mayor Woodside. “It’s part of our Active Transportation strategy and contributes to building a more sustainable community and we are very grateful for this contribution from the federal government.”
The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is providing $212,500 to the project through RInC while the City of Fredericton is investing $457,000.
Canada's Economic Action Plan is providing $500 million over two years for the RInC program to support the upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities. RInC is delivered in Atlantic Canada by ACOA. Under RInC, the Government of Canada will typically fund up to 33 per cent of eligible costs. The remaining funding will be leveraged from other project stakeholders such as provincial, territorial, municipal and other partners. The federal contribution to any project receiving funding under the program will not exceed $1 million. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness, and must be completed before March 31, 2011.
For details on RInC project eligibility and how to submit an application, please refer to the program backgrounder on ACOA’s website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.
For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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Residents of Fredericton will soon enjoy an improved walking trail thanks to a contribution of more than $210,000 from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, a key Government of Canada economic stimulus initiative. The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, made the announcement today alongside City Mayor Brad Woodside.
This project will enable the City of Fredericton to improve a section of the walking trail network along the St. John River on the city’s south side. This includes paving an 8.8 km section of the trail, installing lighting, additional benches, as well as enhancing landscaping along the trail. This initiative will help make the trail more accessible and enjoyable for even more residents and visitors.
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Erin Filliter
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of State (ACOA)
613-941-7241
Lisa Gautreau
Communications Officer
ACOA New Brunswick
506-452-3118
Wayne Knorr
Communications Manager
City of Fredericton
506-460-2181