Ottawa, Ontario, December 4, 2009 - Canadians and communities across Canada are benefitting from thousands of new infrastructure projects investments, as a result of the rapid implementation of Canada's Economic Action Plan this year.
As reported this week in the Fourth Report to Canadians, the Government of Canada has in just 250 days committed funds to a record number of infrastructure projects. This acceleration of projects has been accomplished by bulding partnerships with provinces, territories, municipalities and other partners. Work is now underway on thousands of projects, and some projects have already reached completion.
"Canada's Government is rolling out an unprecedented number of infrastructure projects in record time, and jobs are being created as a result," said Canada's Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister John Baird. "The impact across Canada is real: there is contracting, engineering, environmental work and construction taking place in every province and territory."
Examples of projects underway or completed include:
- extending Lansdowne Road in Richmond, British Columbia
- transit improvements in Edmonton, Alberta
- rehabilitating 9th and 13th Avenues in Regina, Saskatchewan
- refurbishing the Manitoba Centennial Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- rehabilitating Routes 101 and 102 in Fredericton, New Brunswick
- building the Hanover Regional Recreation Complex in Hanover, Ontario
- improving bicycle paths in Bellechasse, Quebec
- the reconstruction of major collector streets in Summerside, Prince Edward Island
A large number of the infrastructure projects under Canada's Economic Action Plan are part of new or existing programs, including: the new two-year $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the new Green Infrastructure Fund, the existing Building Canada Fund which has been accelerated, and a new Recreational Trails program. This year, the Government has committed to 5,200 projects through these programs, which is a commitment of more than $8.7 billion.
In fact, when combined with contributions from the provinces, territories, municipalities and other funding partners, this means a total of $24.7 billion committed for infrastructure projects in communities across the country.
Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, Canada is helping to stimulate the country's economy, provide assistance to families and workers when they need it most, and help Canada emerge stronger than ever before.
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For more information on Building Canada, please visit: www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information contact:
Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
