Released on February 2, 1998
Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Saskatchewan MunicipalGovernment Minister Carol Teichrob together with Saskatchewan Urban
Municipality Association (SUMA) interim President Mike Badham and
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) President
Sinclair Harrison today announced $800,000 in funding for a municipal
information Internet network under Phase One of the
Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Works Program.
The project partners will work together to create a web site to
deliver information to local governments and develop applications such
as e-mail, listservs and bulletin boards. The municipal government
community will have access to relevant information on emerging issues
in their areas of jurisdiction such as economic development, land use,
fire protection and transportation.
Part of this project funding, $500,000, will be set aside for
municipalities to acquire hardware, software or training to access the
information network and services available on the municipal web site.
"By utilizing the Infrastructure Works Program to wire our
schools, libraries, communities and now, local governments, we
are ensuring our residents, especially those in rural and remote
areas, have access to the knowledge and resources needed to stay
competitive and build a healthy economy," Goodale said, 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.
"I particularly like how this project provides federal agencies
with an opportunity to reach municipal customers with information
on their programs and services."
Teichrob, minister responsible for the Canada-Saskatchewan
Infrastructure Agreement said, "Through this infrastructure
project, municipalities will have a single window to access
information, with a specific focus on Saskatchewan and its
municipal issues. Municipalities will also have access to
funding to assist in the purchase of the necessary computers,
modems and software to reach a wide variety of information
resources they may need, when and where they want it."
"For Saskatchewan communities this project will mean distance and
size will no longer be impediments to accessing knowledge and
information sources," Badham said.
"This project will give Municipal Government an opportunity to
share electronic data and information directly with our members,"
Harrison said.
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.
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
Manager, Consultations, Marketing
and Communications
Western Economic Diversification
Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 975-5942
WD Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST
(9378)
Russ Krywulak
Executive Director
Provincial and Municipal
Relations Branch
Municipal Government
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
Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 787-0689