The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest, along with the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, today announced that federal, provincial and municipal governments have joined forces to help communities throughout New Brunswick meet their infrastructure needs, with a combined $57.3 million investment in 32 community infrastructure projects. These projects will help stimulate the local economy and support continued economic growth and environmental protection.

“Today’s investments in New Brunswick will create jobs during these tough economic times,” said Minister Thompson. “These important projects will improve our quality of life, as well as help to boost our regional economy now and for years to come.”

“These investments will help ensure New Brunswick communities have quality infrastructure to protect the residents’ health and wellness,” said Premier Graham. “Ensuring we have strong infrastructure is vital in order for New Brunswick to remain positioned to be self- sufficient.”

Examples of projects to be funded include the McAdam study on the village’s wastewater collection system and the installation of a drinking water residual chlorination monitoring system. The Village of McAdam will receive $63,092 from the federal and provincial governments for the study, and an additional $16,894 from both levels of government for the new chlorination monitoring system. In the Town of St. Stephen, federal and provincial governments will each provide $1.2 million toward a $3.6 million project to separate combined sanitary and storm water flows, and renew existing water mains. In Browns Flat, combined funding of $1.649 million will be used for wastewater infrastructure.

All across New Brunswick, the federal and provincial governments are providing up to two-thirds of the funding for eligible project costs, with local governments covering the remainder of project funding. Federal and provincial contributions for this investment total $38.2 million.

The governments of Canada and New Brunswick have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in New Brunswick communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

Details of the remaining 28 projects funded in New Brunswick under this round of the Communities Component will be made in the weeks to come. Funding for all these projects is contingent on completion of all contractual agreements, including pending Environmental Impact Assessments with municipalities.

The call for proposals for the second round of the Communities Component will be made soon.

For more information on the Building Canada plan and the next intake, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Communities across New Brunswick will benefit from infrastructure investments of more than $57.3 million from federal, provincial and municipal governments. The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick made the announcement in McAdam today. A total of 32 projects will receive funding to help stimulate the economy, build communities and support continued economic growth and environmental protection.

Improvements to the water systems in McAdam, St. Stephen and Browns Flat were highlighted at today’s announcement. Details of the remaining projects funded in New Brunswick under this round of the Communities Component will be made in the weeks to come.

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INFORMATION:

Richard Roik
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
 
Bruce MacFarlane
Managing Director
Communications New Brunswick 
506-444-4606