Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick Partnership to Invest More than $163 million in New Brunswick Communities

 

October 4, 2000

Fredericton, N.B. October 4, 2000 - The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Westmount - Ville-Marie, the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour for Canada, the Honourable Bernard Lord, Premier of New Brunswick, and the Honourable Norman McFarlane, Minister of Training and Employment representing the Honourable Kim Jardine, Minister of the Environment and Local Government for New Brunswick, participated this morning in the formal signing of the six-year Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick Partnership Agreement.

This agreement will mean a total investment of $163.335 million in infrastructure for New Brunswick, with equal contributions from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

The Premier and Ministers agreed the partnership is an excellent example of how different orders of government can work together for the benefit of Canadians.

"The Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick partnership is a reflection of our shared commitment to building a more dynamic economy, and improving quality of life for Canadians in all parts of Canada," said Madame Robillard.

The first priority for Infrastructure Canada investment in New Brunswick, as in the rest of Canada, is green municipal infrastructure.

"Our priority is investment in green municipal infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water and more effective waste management systems to ensure the health and safety of New Brunswickers," said the Premier.

Secondary priorities for the Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick program include local transportation, cultural and recreational facilities, infrastructure supporting tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for local public institutions and affordable housing.

Infrastructure Canada has been a "bottom-up" program from the beginning, and will continue to be so.

"Municipalities know their needs best. The vast majority of projects funded through this agreement will be suggested by the municipalities themselves," said the Hon. Claudette Bradshaw, regional minister for New Brunswick. "Mechanisms are in place to ensure input from local government throughout the life of the program."

"The Infrastructure agreement will benefit municipalities in all regions of New Brunswick in their needs to improve water and sewerage systems," said minister McFarlane.

With the signing of the agreement, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) takes responsibility for the federal involvement in implementation of Infrastructure Canada in New Brunswick, under the direction of implementing minister the Hon. George Baker, Secretary of State for ACOA.

The Department of Environment and Local Government, in conjunction with the Regional Development Corporation, are the provincial jurisdictions responsible for the implementation of the agreement.

The Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick agreement provides for the establishment of a joint management committee to administer the program, and recommend projects for funding.

As part of its commitment to undertake initiatives that make a long-term contribution to a dynamic economy, the federal government has allocated $2.65 billion for its share of a new, cost-shared physical infrastructure program. Infrastructure Canada deals with municipal infrastructure. A strategic highways component, with funding of up to $600 million of the total allocation, is administered by Transport Canada.

Through the Infrastructure Canada partnership, federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments will invest a total of $6 billion in municipal infrastructure in urban and rural communities across Canada.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Chantal Scarlett
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

or

Russell Milon
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the
Treasury Board of Canada and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 957-2666

Amanda Harpelle
Director of Communications
Premier's Office
(506) 453-2144

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Infrastructure Canada - Program Fact Sheet

• In the last Budget, the Government of Canada announced $2.65 billion for physical infrastructure. Of this amount, up to $600 million will be allocated to strategic highways infrastructure to be administered by Transport Canada. With contributions from our provincial, territorial and municipal partners, and the private sector, Infrastructure Canada will generate at least $6 billion in total infrastructure investment.

• The Government of Canada will contribute up to one-third of the cost of individual projects. This contribution could be higher in some instances, as long as Government of Canada funding does not exceed one-third of the total cost of projects funded in a given fiscal year.

• The Infrastructure Canada program is based on partnerships with provincial and territorial governments and municipal associations. All levels of government have played an important part in the design of this new program.

• Infrastructure Canada has been designed with a bottom-up approach. Accordingly, Municipalities will play an important role in the program. The majority of projects will be selected from proposals submitted by municipalities to ensure that the most pressing local needs will be addressed. The federal and provincial governments may also propose projects, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of the Infrastructure Canada funds, to ensure that regional projects, involving more than one municipality, are not overlooked.

• Initial consultations with provinces and territories, municipal associations and other stakeholders confirmed a commitment on the part of all jurisdictions to make a long-term contribution to improving the quality of life and building a more dynamic economy for Canadians.

• Infrastructure Canada's first priority is green municipal infrastructure. Investments within the "green" envelope will include projects related to water and wastewater systems, water management, solid waste management and recycling, and capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities owned by Local Governments.

• Secondary priorities of the program include local transportation, cultural and recreational facilities, infrastructure supporting tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for local public institutions and affordable housing.

• As a next step towards the implementation of the Infrastructure Canada program, a management committee will be established in each jurisdiction, with equal representation from the federal and provincial or territorial governments.

• The management committee will accept and process project applications submitted by municipal governments in each jurisdiction. Information about how to submit project applications will be available soon.

For more information:

Visit the Infrastructure Canada Web Site: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca

Call the Government of Canada Information line (toll free): 1 800 O-Canada