Nipissing District, Ontario, June 7, 2013 – Motorists, residents and businesses in the Nipissing District will soon benefit from major improvements to Highway 17 thanks to a joint funding initiative announced today by the governments of Canada and Ontario.
The Government of Canada is contributing up to $5,049,965 through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component for this project, while the Government of Ontario will provide $15,550,035. The project's total estimated cost is $20.6 million.
The funding will support the rehabilitation of 12.8 kilometres of existing two-lane highway between Highway 94 in Corbeil and Highway 531 in Bonfield. Work will help improve pavement quality, reduce vehicle operating costs and provide a safer road for motorists travelling on Highway 17 in this area.
"Our government is proud to invest in these improvements that will create high-quality jobs, reduce future maintenance costs and provide safer travel for local residents and businesses,"
said Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "Ontario highways play a vital role in supporting our economy. Highway 17 is an important economic link across Northern Ontario, connecting workers with jobs, products with markets and travellers with destinations."
"This TransCanada Highway is a vital link for residents and industry right across Northern Ontario and these improvements will mean a smoother and safer ride for drivers,"
said Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. "We are pleased to be supporting this initiative that will create jobs in the near term and bring economic benefits over the long term."
The Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component provides funding for major infrastructure projects that contribute, among other things, to cultural, economic, community recreation and tourism development. Federal funding is subject to the project meeting all federal eligibility requirements of the Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement for the project.
Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada's economy has created over 1 million net new jobs since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
These investments support Building Together, the Province of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, Ontario has invested approximately $85 billion in infrastructure. Building modern, efficient infrastructure has created or preserved close to 100,000 jobs each year, on average, making Ontario's economy more productive and improving quality of life, now and in the future.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's web site.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure web site.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
Patrick Searle
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure for Ontario
416-327-1815
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
