Internacional (Marketwired, 28 de Agosto de 2013) Many families and residents of Prince Edward Island will soon benefit from improved water and wastewater infrastructure thanks to joint investments from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. And thanks to additional federal investments, more accessible transit will soon be available across the Province.The joint federal, provincial, and municipal funding will support municipal well drilling in Charlottetown-Miltonvale; the connection of 40 residential homes to Stratford's main distribution system and the decommissioning of a small water system that experiences contamination; the upgrade of a pumping station in Resort Municipality; the extension of the Riverside drivewater main in North Rustico; as well as the replacement of sewer mains in Tignish, O'Leary, and Alberton.
In addition, Pat and the Elephant and Transportation West will receive funding from the Government of Canada for new accessible buses and vans. Pat and the Elephant will receive a federal contribution of $141,931 for the purchase of two new specially-equipped vans that will permit to upgrade their fleet and to maintain the level of service provided to their clients. Transportation West, based in Alberton, will be able to purchase a bus to transport clients from West Prince to Charlottetown and Summerside and another larger bus for four wheelchairs and 12 other passengers, thanks to a federal contribution of $212,611.
"Our Government is proud to invest in infrastructure projects that will improve the quality of life in PEI communities, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities in PEI, and across Canada," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. "Safe and reliable drinking water, good wastewater infrastructure and additional accessible transit services are all projects that will significantly contribute to improving the environment and generating economic growth for families and residents."
"Our top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. We are proud to support projects that will enhance the lives of Prince Edward Islanders for years to come," said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean and Member of Parliament for Egmont. "Our communities have unique and diverse infrastructure needs and our Government is pleased to deliver infrastructure programs that will provide funding for projects that are chosen and prioritized according to the infrastructure needs of each community."
"The province is pleased to work with the federal government, our municipalities, and our community partners to strengthen Island communities," said Prince Edward Island Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey. "These investments will help deliver services that are essential to growing our economy and improving quality of life for all Islanders."
The Governments of Canada and PEI will each contribute up to $517,404 towards the water and wastewater projects funded from the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (BCF-CC), with the municipalities contributing the balance of the total eligible project costs. The BCF-CC recognizes the unique infrastructure needs of Canada's smaller communities and focuses on projects that meet environmental, economic and quality of life objectives.
The Government of Canada's contribution of $354,542 towards Pat and the Elephant and Transportation West's new accessible buses and vans is made through the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer. The federal Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this program, and passed legislation to make it a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund to provide additional funding for communities, starting in 2014.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 965,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
Infrastructure programs on Prince Edward Island are administered by the Canada-PEI Infrastructure Secretariat. This joint initiative between the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island makes funding available to municipalities for projects that are selected for their potential to enhance the environment; support long-term economic growth; improve community infrastructure, and equip communities for the future.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng.
For further information on infrastructure investments in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/tir
Backgrounder
PEI Infrastructure projects funded by the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component and the Gas Tax Fund
Charlottetown
Miltonvale Municipal Well Drilling: Additional drilling and casing is needed to complete the well field. This project includes building an all-season access road to the wells.
Federal contribution: $232,058Provincial contribution: $232,058Municipal contribution: $232,058Total project cost: $696,174
Pat and the Elephant: The purchase of two new specially-equipped vans will permit Pat and the Elephant to upgrade their fleet and to maintain the level of service provided to their clients. Founded by Patricia Rogers in 1975, Pat and the Elephant is a non-profit organization based in Charlottetown that provides year-round service to Islanders and visitors who are visually impaired, have artificial limbs, are hearing impaired, or are wheelchair mobile.
Federal contribution: $141,931Total project cost: $141,931
Transportation West: Based in Alberton, it will be able to purchase a bus to transport clients from West Prince to Charlottetown and Summerside, and another larger bus for four wheelchairs and 12 other passengers.
Federal contribution: $212,611Total project cost: $212,611
Tignish
Sewer Main Replacement 2013: Replaces a problematic pipe to make the system more efficient. Older concrete pipe has settled and could cause contamination to ground water.
Federal contribution: $69,563Provincial contribution: $69,563Municipal contribution: $69,562Total project cost: $208,688
O'Leary
Kent Street Sewer Main Replacement: Replaces a problematic pipe to make the system more efficient. Older concrete pipe has settled and could cause contamination to area homes that still have on-site water wells.
Federal contribution: $49,667Provincial contribution: $49,667Municipal contribution: $49,666Total project cost: $149,000
Stratford
Victoria View Lane to Langley Subdivision Water Interconnection: Connects 40 residential homes to the Town's main distribution system, and decommissions small water system that experiences contamination.
Federal contribution: $48,333Provincial contribution: $48,333Municipal contribution: $48,334Total project cost: $145,000
Resort Municipality
Pumping Station Upgrades – Emergency Power: Permanent generator to provide emergency power to the pumping station to prevent sewage overflows into the Hope River. Transfer switches to be provided to five smaller stations.
Federal contribution: $46,383Provincial contribution: $46,383Municipal contribution: $46,383Total project cost: $139,149
North Rustico
Riverside Drive Water Main Extension: Connects seven homes to water and creates a loop at the end of the system. The current dead end on the existing watermain has to be flushed on a regular basis to maintain water quality.
Federal contribution: $44,560Provincial contribution: $44,560Municipal contribution: $44,560Total project cost: $133,680
Alberton
Sewer Main Replacement Main Street: Replaces a problematic pipe to make the system more efficient. Older concrete pipe has settled and could cause contamination to area homes that still have on-site water wells.
Federal contribution: $26,840Provincial contribution: $26,840Municipal contribution: $26,840Total project cost: $80,520
Contact Information
Marie-Josee Paquette – Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities
and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-948-1838
Brad Chatfield
Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation
and Infrastructure Renewal
902-368-5112
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
FUENTE: MARKETWIRED