Communities in rural and northern Manitoba seeking funding for infrastructure projects under the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program will want to mark an important date on their calendars.

Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), and Jean Friesen, Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced that the next application deadline has been set for June 13, 2003.

Since the six-year, $180 million program was launched with the signing of the federal/provincial agreement in October 2000, over 400 applications requesting more than $600 million have been received and reviewed. With the conclusion of the second application review period and funding allocations, 112 projects have been announced to date committing over $133 million.

Project applications received by the June 2003 deadline are expected to be reviewed and announced for the 2004 construction season.

The Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program is funded by equal contributions from the federal governments, Manitoba government and community partners such as municipalities and other community organizations.

The deadline date is based on the recommendation from the Rural/Northern Federal-Provincial-Local Consultative Committee, which is made up of municipal officials including representatives from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Northern Association of Community Councils, and provides local input on the project selection process.

The deadline does not apply to municipal applications from the City of Winnipeg, which follows a separate process.

The key priority for the program is green municipal infrastructure. Other priorities 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.

For more information on projects announced to date, please visit the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program web site at: http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca

For additional information, contact:

Jacquie Sippola
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0280

Sue Murray
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll free: 1-800-268-4883
CMIP Web site: www.infrastructure.mb.ca

Graham Gork
Communications Coordinator
Communications Services Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-5795
Manitoba Government Web site: www.gov.mb.ca