Island communities can now access more funding to help put their infrastructure plans into action. Today, federal and provincial governments signed the Communities Component of the Building Canada Plan and officially launched the new program.
Through the Communities Component, the federal and provincial governments together will invest $44 million through until 2014, which will help meet the local infrastructure needs and priorities of Prince Edward Island communities. With matching contributions from communities, the total funding made available under the Communities Component could increase to $66 million over the life of the program.
The Communities Component provides funding towards several categories of infrastructure projects, including water, wastewater, local roads and bridges, public transit, green energy, disaster mitigation, sports, culture and tourism. Projects will be selected by a federal-provincial committee through a competitive process.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and by the Honourable Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour.
“Our Government is proud to commit this unprecedented level of funding to assist communities in Prince Edward Island. Working with our partners allows us to provide quality infrastructure, such as better sewer, water and local roads,” said Minister Cannon. “The Communities Component will make a real difference in the every day lives of Islanders.”
“By helping local governments plan and enhance infrastructure, communities will be more vibrant, sustainable and more active places in which to live and work,” said Premier Ghiz. “The Communities Component of the Building Canada Plan will see municipal infrastructure priorities being addressed. By enhancing our infrastructure, provincial environmental goals will be achieved and stronger communities will be built.”
“Through its investment, the Government of Canada is getting things done in implementing our Building Canada Plan for the benefit of all Prince Edward Island residents,” said Minister MacKay. “The Communities Component will help to address the infrastructure needs of Islanders and provide them healthy, safe and more prosperous communities.”
“The Building Canada Plan will have a tremendous impact on our Island economy, our environment, and the sustainability of our communities,” said Minister Bertram. “This partnership will ensure the funding necessary to assist communities as they work to enhance facilities and provide adequate services to residents now and in the future.”
After July 14, 2008, municipalities can submit online applications for the Communities Component of the Building Canada Plan at https://bcfcc-fccvc.infrastructure.gc.ca/. The deadline for this first intake of applications is August 11, 2008. The Canada-PEI Infrastructure Secretariat will be conducting information session during the month of July to fully outline the program requirements and the application process. Municipal officials wishing to attend an information session are asked to contact the Secretariat at (902) 620-3380.
Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the federal government is providing long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country. On May 21, 2008, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island announced the signing of a Framework Agreement worth $270.25 million under the Building Canada Plan.
For more information on the Building Canada Plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
Building Canada Communities Component in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island Communities Component:
On May 21, 2008, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island signed a Framework Agreement worth $270.25 million over seven years under the Building Canada plan. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada dedicated $35.25 million for infrastructure projects in Prince Edward Island under the Building Canada Fund. Of the $35.25 million, $22 million was dedicated to the Communities Component of the Fund; the remainder $13.25 million will be dedicated to major public infrastructure projects across the Island.
The Province of Prince Edward Island will match all federal dollars under the Building Canada Fund.
After July 14, 2008 Municipalities can submit online applications for the Communities Component of the Building Canada Plan at https://bcfcc-fccvc.infrastructure.gc.ca/. The deadline for this first intake of applications is August 11, 2008. Information sessions to outline the program requirements and the application process will be held during the month of July. Anyone wishing to attend an information session is asked to contact the Canada-PEI Infrastructure Secretariat at (902) 620-3380.
Funding Categories
WATER – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that contributes to: improved safety, management, reliability and efficiency of Canada’s drinking water treatment and distribution systems; increased number of households with access to safe drinking water that meets or exceeds the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality; improved protection and/or management of drinking water sources; and improved conservation of water.
WASTEWATER – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that contributes to: reducing the negative impacts of wastewater effluent or stormwater effluent on human health and the environment; improving the safety and management of wastewater sludge; and, improving the management and efficiency of wastewater infrastructure or stormwater infrastructure.
PUBLIC TRANSIT – Projects that construct, improve or rehabilitate public transit infrastructure that contributes to economic, environmental and social sustainability in cities and communities.
NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM – Projects that construct, improve or rehabilitate segments of the Core National Highway System that contributes to: supporting trade and tourism flows inter-provincially and internationally; improving transportation safety; improving mobility; and, encouraging innovation.
GREEN ENERGY – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that contributes to: increase the availability and/or reliability of Canada’s clean energy supply; increase the availability of renewable energy; improving air quality; and, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
DISASTER MITIGATION – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that reduces the vulnerability of a community or public infrastructure to the negative impacts of extreme natural events, including adverse events related to climate change.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that reduces the environmental impacts resulting from solid waste management.
BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION AND REDEVELOPMENT – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that contributes to: removal or neutralization of the negative effects of brownfields on communities and environment by remediating and redeveloping these properties in a sustainable manner; and, support more intense land use within cities and communities.
CULTURE – Projects that achieve significant economic and/or regional impacts through the construction or material rehabilitation of public infrastructure that results in: supporting arts and/or heritage facilities; and/or, helping communities express, preserve, develop and promote their culture and/or heritage within Canada.
SPORT – Projects that achieve significant economic and/or regional impacts through the construction or material rehabilitation of sport infrastructure that results in: providing increased opportunities for sport activities that can improve the health of Canadians and strengthen Canadian communities; and/or, providing increased opportunities for the development of Canadian athletes and/or the hosting of major amateur athletic events.
CONNECTIVITY – Projects that construct or materially rehabilitate public infrastructure that results in: improving the delivery of public services, such as government services, education, and health; and/or, improving quality of life, social development, reduces travel requirements, and increases the potential for innovation and economic development by connecting Canadians, particularly in rural and remote communities.
LOCAL ROAD – Projects that construct, improve or rehabilitate local road infrastructure that contributes to improving road safety; improving mobility; improving sustainability; supporting economic and community development.
SHORTLINE RAIL – Projects that promote Canada’s competitiveness, trade, security and quality of life by optimizing the use of all transportation modes in order to maximize the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of the national transportation system.
SHORT SEA SHIPPING – Projects that involve new or significantly expanded infrastructure, supporting increased short sea shipping capacity and/or new routes, in order to promote Canada’s competitiveness, trade, and quality of life by optimizing the use of all transportation modes in order to maximize the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of the national transportation system.
REGIONAL AND LOCAL AIRPORTS – Projects that promote Canada’s regional economic development by improving the efficiency of regional and local airports while maintaining high levels of safety and security.
TOURISM – Projects that achieve significant economic and/or regional impacts through the construction or material rehabilitation of convention centres or exhibition hall-type facilities.
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS – Projects that achieve strategic objectives: promoting the implementation of holistic approaches to public infrastructure planning and management, and sustainable community planning principles; encouraging a culture of using integrated life cycle asset management as a decision-making approach; promoting the integration of demand management in public infrastructure planning and management; encouraging dissemination of project results to other municipalities; and, supporting collaborative feasibility and planning studies on public infrastructure projects and issues.