The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities of the governments of Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than our personal health. It is having a profound effect on the economy.

“We need more biking around our beautiful city. And we need our bikers to be safe. This project will make walking and cycling more practical and safer for more people.”

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South–Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Physical activity is important for our mental and physical health. Since COVID-19 changed our lives, active living has become even more important, and encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle is important to our government. By working with the City of St. John’s and the Federal Government, we are providing access to an inclusive trail for walkers and cyclists to enjoy.”

The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“On behalf of Council and staff, we are thankful to our Federal and Provincial partners for this significant investment in City infrastructure. Upgrading Kelly’s Brook Trail is a major step in building an integrated mobility network that will support multiple modes of active transportation in our City. Improved connectivity will provide health and economic benefits for many years to come, and I look forward to breaking ground on this project.”

His Worship Danny Breen, Mayor of St. John’s

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

• $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure in Canadian communities.

• The Government of Canada has invested more than $491 million towards over 565 infrastructure projects across Newfoundland under the Investing in Canada plan.

• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories, and some administrative requirements have been streamlined to accommodate faster approvals. 

• The COVID-19 Resilience Stream will help other orders of governments whose finances have been significantly impacted by the pandemic by increasing the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects to 80% in the provinces. Federal funding will cover 100% of the cost of projects in the territories and for projects with Indigenous recipients.

• The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy innovative new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.

Associated links

• Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
• Federal infrastructure investments in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
chantalle.aubertin@canada.ca

Emily-Jane Gillingham
Media Relations Manager
Transportation and Works
709-729-1758
EmilyGillingham@gov.nl.ca

Kelly Maguire
Media Relations
City of St. John’s
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca

Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
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Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca
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