Federal, provincial and municipal governments invest in key infrastructure under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, March 17, 2011 – Saskatchewan will benefit from a total joint investment of $157.8 million in eight highway, local road and water infrastructure initiatives under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.
The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Gordon Wyant, the MLA for Saskatoon Northwest, made the announcement in Saskatoon where improvements will be made at the intersection of Highways 7 and 14 in the Blairmore area.
“The economy remains our Government’s top priority and we are pleased to carry on with strategic investments such as these that are helping to keep Saskatchewan’s roads and highways working efficiently,” said Minister Ritz. “These new initiatives will contribute to ensuring Saskatchewan’s sustained growth, and economic prosperity.”
”Saskatchewan’s communities are growing rapidly and we need to have the infrastructure in place to keep pace with new development,” said MLA Wyant. “The improvements to the intersection of Highways 7 and 14, along with the other highway projects receiving federal funding, are meant to ensure increasing traffic volumes are moving efficiently and safely.”
Improvements where Highways 7 and 14 intersect in the Blairmore area will include the final alignment of Highway 7 to connect to Highway 14 and Dalmeny Road on the west side of Saskatoon. Work will also includes the construction of two new at-grade diamond intersections along Highway 14 to accommodate traffic demands in this rapidly growing area. These improvements will provide unrestricted traffic movements for vehicles and semi-trucks coming from and turning onto Highway 7.
The total funding announced today supports construction, upgrades and improvements for new infrastructure initiatives identified in Saskatchewan’s amended 2009-2010 Capital Plan, and its 2010-2011 Capital Plan, under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. The complete initiatives list can be found in the attached backgrounder.
The signing of the Capital Plans also marks the commitment of the remaining funding under Saskatchewan’s $175-million allocation under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. Under this Fund, Saskatchewan will receive $175 million from the Government of Canada for core infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater and safe roads.
Across all of its funds, Infrastructure Canada has now committed over $10.75 billion toward more than 6,300 infrastructure projects as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. When combined with the contributions of our funding partners, there is approximately $31 billion committed to infrastructure projects across the country.
For further information on Infrastructure Canada’s projects in Saskatchewan, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information contact:
Kirsten Leatherdale
Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure
306-787-8484
Robert Lynch
Office of the Hon. Rob Merrifield
Minister of State (Transport)
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
The total funding announced today supports construction, upgrades and improvements for infrastructure initiatives identified in Saskatchewan’s amended 2009-2010 Capital Plan, and its 2010-2011 Capital Plan, under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.
The signing of the Capital Plans also marks the commitment of the balance of Saskatchewan’s $175-million allocation under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. Under this Fund, Saskatchewan will receive $175 million from the Government of Canada for core infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater and safe roads.
