Shippagan, New Brunswick, July 19, 2012 – The Town of Shippagan today celebrated the construction of a section of a new paved bicycle path, extending the Sentier Rivage boardwalk. The 3.6-kilometre bike path will be completed by the end of August.
"This new bike path will be a great addition to the boardwalk, which Shippagan residents and visitors will enjoy for years to come,"
said Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Our government will continue to deliver long-term infrastructure funding to support municipalities and communities in New Brunswick, while creating local jobs and economic growth across Canada."
"Investing in community infrastructure projects like this new bicycle path will help improve the quality of life for our citizens and visitors to Shippagan and the Acadian Peninsula,"
said provincial Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud.
"The Town of Shippagan and its citizens will be extremely proud to finally benefit from this prestigious infrastructure, which will ensure both a way to travel within the community and a way to enjoy nature and its benefits through physical activity and cycling. There remains about a kilometre to complete to join the town's outer limits within a charming and safe environment. With the future extension of this bicycle path, we will be able to visit our neighbouring municipalities while maintaining our physical health and help the environment. On behalf of the municipal council of the Town of Shippagan, I would like to thank the provincial and federal governments for their contributions to this beautiful project,"
said His Worship Tilmon Mallet, Mayor of the Town of Shippagan.
Shippagan is extending the Sentier Rivage boardwalk path with a new 3.6-kilometre paved bicycle path that will run south in a corridor along du Réservoir street. This new path aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and will offer Shippagan residents and visitors alike with new opportunities to explore the region.
The Town of Shippagan is directing $184,500 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation toward this project. The Government of New Brunswick is contributing $184,500 and the Town of Shippagan is contributing the balance of the total project cost of $369,000.
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding to local governments to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion per year. Between 2010 and 2014 the Government of Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund alone, will provide $178.532 million in funding for municipal infrastructure in New Brunswick. During the same time period, the Town of Shippagan will receive $856,096 from the Fund.
Investing in infrastructure is a key part of the Government of Canada's plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Over the course of the summer, the Government of Canada is meeting with provinces, territories, municipalities through municipal associations and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as well as other key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan. This plan will focus on investments that support job creation and economic growth, while building strong, prosperous communities across the country. In addition, the Government of Canada will hold a roundtable with national stakeholders and private sector representatives at the end of the summer. Working together to develop this plan will provide new opportunities for all orders of government and the private sector to build partnerships to improve public infrastructure in Canada.
For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in New Brunswick, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Bruce Macfarlane
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606
Nathalie Robichaud
Town of Shippagan
506-336-3900
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
