November 12, 2012
Altona, Manitoba
Today, Candice Bergen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Portage - Lisgar, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding to revitalize the Altona Municipal Airport under the Harper Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).
"Our Government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our communities," said Parliamentary Secretary Bergen. "Improvements to the runway will ensure safe and reliable access while helping to boost economic activity and maintain a high quality of life."
Under the project, the Rural Municipality of Rhineland and the Town of Altona, with support from the Harper Government of $249,975, will revitalize the Municipal Airport by removing the weed growth, repairing surface cracks, and installing an asphalt overlay on the existing runway, taxiway and apron. The improvements will ensure a safer runway for users while creating local jobs and economic opportunities.
"The Town of Altona and the R.M. of Rhineland would like to thank Western Economic Diversification Canada for providing 50 per cent of the funding for this project," said Altona Mayor Melvin Klassen and Rhineland Reeve Don Wiebe. "We expect this upgrade will extend the life of the asphalt at the airport by many years and that the airport will continue to be an important piece of municipal infrastructure. In addition to supporting our local economy, this project will allow our region to continue to benefit from emergency air ambulance service."
CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.
Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating, small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets. By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.
For more information, contact:
Gabriela Klimes
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-983-6243
Michael Rempel
CAO, Rural Municipality of Rhineland
Telephone: 204-324-5357
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF), the Harper Government has committed to supporting communities and creating jobs through repairs and improvements to existing community facilities over the next two years. The Fund is being delivered by the regional development agencies across Canada. In Western Canada, Western Economic Diversification is delivering over $46 million towards eligible projects.
The construction of new infrastructure and repairs to facilities that are primarily for commercial or for-profit activities are ineligible. Facilities must be accessible for use by the public and not limited to a private membership. All projects are required to be completed by March 31, 2014.
Organizations eligible to apply for funding under CIIF include:
- local or regional governments or related agencies;
- provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
- non-profit organizations; and
- First Nation governments, including Band or Tribal Councils or their legally-designated representatives.
Examples of the type of community infrastructure that can be supported under CIIF include:
- community centres;
- cultural centres;
- parks;
- libraries;
- recreational facilities (e.g. local arenas, swimming pools, sports fields, and other types of recreational facilities);
- tourism facilities having a local impact; and
- other existing community infrastructure assets which have a local community impact such as connectivity and broadband and local airports.
Please refer to www.wd-deo.gc.ca for more information on the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.
