Released on April 11, 1995
Highways and Transportation Minister Andy Renaud and Prince
Albert-Churchill River MP Gordon Kirkby today announced the
Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program has approved funding
to build a road into Grandmother's Bay in northern Saskatchewan.
Cost of the project is $1.45 million. The Canada-Saskatchewan
Infrastructure Works Program will provide $1,124,000. The remainder of
the funding will be provided by the federal Department of Indian and
Northern Affairs.
The project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 1995 and be completed
by June, 1996. It is expected to create 24 jobs during the
construction period.
The First Nations community of Grandmother's Bay is at the north end of
Otter Lake. Access to the community has been by water in the summer
and by an ice road in the winter months as the village is separated
from Highway 102 by about three km of water. The new road will provide
a reliable year-round transportation link to Grandmother's Bay.
"Road access into Grandmother's Bay will bring many benefits to the
residents," Renaud said. "The road construction will create jobs and
we will make an effort to use northern contractors for the project as a
way to maximize local participation. In addition, a year-round land
transportation route will reduce freight costs, provide tourism and
economic development opportunities and generally improve the standard
of living for families in Grandmother's Bay."
Speaking on behalf of Lloyd Axworthy, minister of Western Economic
Diversification and implementing minister of the infrastructure program
in western Canada, Kirkby said: "The federal government is pleased to
be involved in another infrastructure project creating access into one
of our northern communities. Like the Cumberland House bridge, the
tote standard access road will address health and safety concerns. It
also is a necessary step in reducing the cost of providing a new water
and sewage system and school currently being planned for Grandmother's
Bay. To foster economic growth, we must continue to develop a first
class infrastructure and a healthy living environment."
The Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Agreement was signed in
January, 1994. It enables Canada, Saskatchewan and municipalities to
co-operatively undertake and fund projects which will renew and improve
the quality of the public infrastructure and create employment
opportunities for Canadians.
Under the agreement, $173.1 million has been earmarked for
infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan. To date, more than $169.2
million has been approved for 773 infrastructure projects.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak Russ Krywulak
Communications Manager Director
Western Economic Diversification Canada Canada-Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Infrastructure Program
Phone: 975-5942 Regina Phone: 787-8808
BACKGROUNDER
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Grandmother's Bay Access Road
Canada - Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program
April 11, 1995
_ The First Nations community of Grandmother's Bay is comprised of
about 200 members of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
_ A 11.7 km tote standard access road will be built to provide
year-round access to Grandmother's Bay. A tote standard access
road is a road constructed to minimum engineering standards in
order to provide basic all-weather access for the transport of
people, goods and services to a community.
_ Transportation services to and from the community has been by
water travel in the summer and winter road access across the lake,
both provided by the Indian Band. There are periods without
service during freeze and thaw periods, and there is no airport to
provide alternate service.
_ The Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program will provide
$1,124,000 of the total $1.45 million project cost. Of this
amount, $777,808 will be provided by the Government of
Saskatchewan; $346,192 will be provided by the Federal Government.
_ A portion of the road (2.63 kms) will be built on Indian Reserve
lands. The cost of building the on-reserve portion of the road
($326,000) will be funded entirely by the federal Department of
Indian and Northern Affairs.
_ Benefits of the new tote standard access road into Grandmother's
Bay include:
- reduced freight costs;
- employment and economic development opportunities;
- increased tourism for northern Saskatchewan;
- improvements to the standard of living;
- year-round access to goods and services, including health
services and food supplies;
- safer means of travel for local residents;
- reduced costs for delivery of water and sewer service to the
community; and,
- major capital projects can now proceed, including a new
school for the community.
