Released on September 11, 2014
New Building Canada Plan Open for Business in SaskatchewanKelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, was joined today by Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner to announce the Government of Canada has set aside approximately $3.8 million for the Highway 7 passing lanes project in Saskatchewan under the New Building Canada Fund.
“Our government’s support for public infrastructure has never been stronger,” said Block. “We are pleased to work with the Province of Saskatchewan to approve projects under the New Building Canada Fund, to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in Saskatchewan. Canada’s highways are important links between our communities, which is why our government is proud to support the Highway 7 passing lanes project. It will help promote economic growth in the region, improve mobility in Saskatchewan, and increase safety for all those who use it.”
“This project addresses increasing traffic volume on Highway 7,” Heppner said. “The agricultural, mining and resource sectors continue to expand in the region. Passing lanes will improve safety and efficiency for drivers travelling between cities like Saskatoon and Calgary on an important part of our National Highway system.”
This project will include the construction of eight passing lanes along Highway 7 between the towns of Rosetown and Delisle, consisting of 16 kilometres of new highway. This project will improve safety for vehicles travelling between Saskatchewan and Alberta on a roadway that is heavily used for the transportation of potash and over-dimensional loads.
The New Building Canada Fund is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in Canada’s history. This unprecedented commitment will provide $53 billion over the next decade to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure.
Over the next ten years, Saskatchewan will benefit from more than $1 billion in dedicated federal funding, including almost $437 million under the New Building Canada Fund.
Quick Facts:
- The Government of Canada is setting aside up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $3,835,000, for this project under the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component, National and Regional Projects (PTIC-NRP). The funding is conditional on the signing of a contribution agreement.
- The Government of Saskatchewan will also contribute 50 per cent of eligible costs and will be responsible for all remaining costs related to this project.
- The $53 billion New Building Canada Fund provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
- The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide more than $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
- The $14 billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
- The $4 billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
- The $10 billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
- An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.
- $6 billion in funding continues to flow across the country this year, and beyond, under existing infrastructure programs.
For more information, contact:
Steve Shaheen
Highways and Infrastructure
Saskatoon
Phone: 306.933.5641
Email: steve.shaheen@gov.sk.ca
Vincent Rabault
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure
Phone: 613-943-1838
Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-960-9251
Email: media@infc.gc.ca