March 13, 2015 – Ottawa – Transport Canada
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, today announced that the Government of Canada is launching a call for proposals for infrastructure projects in British Columbia, creating jobs and economic growth, and moving goods, services and people to and from the fast-growing Asia-Pacific economies.
Approximately $16.5 million in contribution funds is available under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund (APGCTIF) to support projects aimed at making Canada’s multimodal transportation network more efficient for international trade with Asia-Pacific.
Provincial, municipal, not-for-profit and for-profit private sector organizations are encouraged to apply for funding by April 30, 2015. Approved projects must be fully completed by December 31, 2017.
Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway is a seamless network of seaports, airports, railways, roadways and border crossings that reaches across Western Canada. Launched in 2006, the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI) aims to make Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway the best transportation network, facilitating global supply chains between North America and Asia. To date, the Government of Canada has invested approximately $1.4 billion in APGCI infrastructure projects, in partnership with all four Western provinces, municipalities and the private sector, for a total project value of approximately $3.5 billion.
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has concluded Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, Jordan and Peru. Our government has also concluded negotiations on the historic Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Most notably, we completed the landmark Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA):
- The CKFTA came into force on January 1st, 2015, providing Canadians with preferential market access to South Korea’s 50 million consumers.
- South Korea is not only a major economic partner for Canada, but it will also serves as a gateway for Canadian businesses into the fast growing, dynamic Asia-Pacific region.
- The Agreement is projected to increase Canadian merchandise exports to South Korea by 32 percent and boost Canada’s economy by $1.7 billion; it will benefit Canadians in every sector and every region of this country.
Zach Segal
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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