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Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership to Invest more than $170 Million in Saskatchewan Communities
The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Westmount – Ville-Marie, and the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Regional Minister for Saskatchewan and the Honourable Jack Hillson, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing for Saskatchewan, participated today in the formal signing of the six-year Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement.
The total investment in Saskatchewan, with equal contributions from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, will be $170.133 million.
The Ministers agreed the partnership is an excellent example of how different levels of government can work together for the benefit of Canadians.
"The Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan 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.
"We are pleased to enter this partnership with Canada to work with local governments to develop, renew and enhance the infrastructure of Saskatchewan communities,
" said Minister Hillson.
The first priority for Infrastructure Canada investment in Saskatchewan, as in the rest of Canada, is green municipal infrastructure such as water and waste-water projects.
Secondary priorities for the Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan 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 evolved from the grass roots, and will continue to do 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. Ralph Goodale, federal regional minister for Saskatchewan. "Mechanisms are in place to ensure input from local government throughout the life of the program.
"
"The Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan Program will provide a significant boost to Saskatchewan's economy and create up to 6,000 seasonal jobs over the six-year program,
" said Minister Hillson.
With the signing of the agreement, Western Economic Diversification (WD), takes responsibility for the federal involvement in implementation of Infrastructure Canada in Saskatchewan, under the direction of implementing minister the Hon. Ronald Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification.
In Saskatchewan, the department of Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing will assume responsibility for the provincial involvement in implementing the program and working with local governments.
The Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan 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, will receive funding of up to $600 million of the total allocation.
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.
For additional information, contact:
Chantal Scarlett
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391
Maureen Boyle
Manager, Communications
Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing
(306) 787-2687
Russell Milon
Press Secretary
Office of the President of theTreasury Board of Canada and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 957-2666
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Infrastructure Canada – Program Fact Sheet - Saskatchewan
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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.
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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 orders 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.
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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.
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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.
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The Infrastructure Canada-Saskatchewan agreement specifies a minimum 50 per cent of the total value of all approved projects must be invested in green municipal infrastructure.
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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.
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To ensure the infrastructure needs of rural communities are considered, a minimum 50 per cent of total approved costs for all projects in Saskatchewan must be invested in projects proposed by rural municipalities.
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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.
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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 (1 800 622-6232)
TTY/TDD 1 800 465-7735
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