The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Paula Biggar, Prince Edward Island Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy, today announced $6,295,544 in joint funding for improvements to municipal infrastructure in eleven Prince Edward Island communities. The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, and Robert J. Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, also attended the event.
This announcement represents important investments in wastewater, drinking water, green energy and public transit infrastructure projects that will help maintain safe and healthy communities. Once complete, the work will significantly improve key municipal services for residents and help boost regional development for years to come.
The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are each contributing up to $3,147,772 to these projects through the Small Communities Fund, representing two-thirds of the estimated $9,444,119 total project costs.
The $1-billion Small Communities Fund supports priority public infrastructure projects in communities across the country with less than 100,000 residents. The 11 projects announced today represent important investments in the green energy, drinking water, and wastewater infrastructure needed to build stronger, more sustainable communities.
Minister Morneau also spoke about how Budget 2016 signals a new approach that will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Canadians, today and in the future. This includes historic new investments in infrastructure that total more than $120 billion over the next decade. He highlighted the governments immediate first step, of proposing to invest $11.9 billion in modern and reliable public transit, water and wastewater systems, affordable housing, and in retrofits and repairs to protect existing projects from the effects of climate change.
Quotes
“In Budget 2016, our Government made an historic commitment of more than $120 billion over ten years to support public infrastructure projects. Smart investments in communities, like those being announced today, will have a lasting positive impact on quality of life in Prince Edward Island and across the country. By working in partnership with all levels of government, we will continue to make necessary investments that will ensure a strong middle class, and produce long-term economic growth for all Canadians."
The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
“The benefits of this development will be enduring. These communities are becoming more sustainable, they are reducing their environmental footprints and preparing themselves to respond to the challenges of future growth. I’m pleased as well that this work will result in some immediate building activity in communities from Tignish to Souris. This work will create jobs and sustain businesses, at the same time as the infrastructure we build creates the environment for future development.”
The Honourable Paula Biggar, Prince Edward Island Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy
Associated Links
To learn more about the Small Communities Fund, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html.
For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.