Released on December 24, 1997
Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Saskatchewan MunicipalGovernment Minister Carol Teichrob today announced that the
Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program has approved 15
municipal projects under Phase One and Two of the Canada-Saskatchewan
Infrastructure Works Program.
Speaking on behalf of Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western
Economic Diversification and minister responsible for implementation
of the infrastructure program in Western Canada, Minister Goodale
said: "I'm pleased to see so many Saskatchewan rural municipalities,
as well as urban centres like Estevan, taking advantage of the program
and working with the other levels of government to maintain and
upgrade important traditional infrastructure facilities and services,
and in some cases, build new infrastructure."
"Municipalities have been able to put forward their own priorities
under the program," Teichrob said. "Infrastructure renewal enhances
the quality of life of citizens, makes municipalities more competitive
in attracting new residents and economic development, and creates jobs
now."
Under Phase One of the infrastructure program, $6,600 has been
approved to replace a pedestrian walking bridge in a park in
Esterhazy.
Fourteen municipal projects, totalling more than $1 million, will be
funded under Phase Two by the three levels of government federal,
provincial and municipal. They include road improvements and storm
sewer and culvert upgrades. These infrastructure projects are
expected to create about 18 new short-term jobs during the
planning and construction phases.
The original Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program,
signed in January 1994, is estimated to have created more than
5,200 short-term jobs, while at the same time making essential
improvements to infrastructure throughout the province.
To date, under Phase Two of the program, over 800 projects have
been approved, worth more than $50 million in additional new
investments in Saskatchewan infrastructure.
Federal funding for this initiative was provided for in the
February 1997 budget and is therefore built into the existing
fiscal framework. These projects underline the commitment of both
governments to establish spending priorities that will best serve
the people of Saskatchewan through efficient use of their tax
dollars.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification
Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 975-5942
WD Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST
(9378)
Russ Krywulak
Canada-Saskatchewan
Infrastructure Works
Program
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8887
WD World Wide Web site:
English - http://www.wd.gc.ca
French - http://www.deo.gc.ca
Patrick Hall
Municipal Government
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0689