Harper Government announces new investments to Parks Canada sites across New Brunswick

SAINT JOHN, NB, March 13, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister Responsible for Parks Canada, joined by Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, today announced $20 million in new investments to National Parks and National Historic Sites across New Brunswick.

These investments are part of the $2.8 billion announced by the Prime Minister in November 2014 to support infrastructure improvements to heritage, tourism, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These investments by the Government of Canada include the largest infrastructure plan at Parks Canada in its 104 year history.

The Government of Canada's investments in Parks Canada assets throughout New Brunswick includes projects to restore and rehabilitate important assets in Fundy National Park and Kouchibouguac National Park. This investment is in addition to the $391.5 million for Parks Canada infrastructure announced in Economic Action Plan 2014, bringing the total new investment in Parks Canada to close to $3.0 billion.

Quick Facts

• On November 24, the Prime Minister announced a new $5.8 billion federal infrastructure program that will continue to build and renew infrastructure across the country. Today's announcement is part of this infrastructure program.
• Parks Canada is present in hundreds of communities across Canada and contributes approximately $3 billion dollars to the Canadian economy every year.
• Parks Canada's overall contribution to the Canadian economy is responsible for more than 40,000 jobs from coast to coast to coast.
• Parks Canada investments support the Government's National Conservation Plan while also creating jobs, promoting visitor experience and supporting communities across Canada.
• As our country nears its 150^th birthday in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to learn more about the major events that have shaped their country's history. Canada's national historic sites enable us to experience our rich history and heritage in a special way and play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to connecting Canadian families to nature. With the new investments for Parks Canada sites we are well on track to build on our record of strengthening the infrastructure that benefits Canadian families from coast to coast to coast. We will continue to support infrastructure that encourages job creation, visitor experience and economic growth, while improving the quality of life of all Canadians."

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister Responsible for Parks Canada

"These investments create exciting new ways for urban Canadian families and youth to connect to our parks and historic sites, but they also support visitor experience and the economy in every region. Our Government is proud to invest in projects that will provide lasting and positive economic impacts that will be felt locally and regionally, for many years to come."

Rodney Weston
Member of Parliament for Saint John

Related Product

General Backgrounder: Federal Investments in Infrastructure

Associated Links

National Conservation Plan
Parks Canada: www.parkscanada.gc.ca  

General Backgrounder: Federal Investments in Infrastructure

Canada's prosperity and quality of life depend on a vast network of public infrastructure – from roads and highways, to bridges, transit systems, water and wastewater infrastructure, ports, airports and recreational and cultural facilities. Investments in Canada's public infrastructure create jobs, support trade, and promote productivity and economic growth in communities across Canada. 

A Strong Record of Infrastructure Investments Since 2006

All levels of government have a responsibility to maintain and improve the public infrastructure assets they own. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has provided an unprecedented level of funding to support investments in public infrastructure across the country.

• Through the $33 billion 2007 Building Canada plan, the Government has supported over 12,000 provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects across Canada. This includes increased and ongoing federal support for municipal roads, public transit and recreational facilities through the Gas Tax Fund—first doubling the size of the program to $2 billion per year in 2009 and then passing legislation to make funding for the program permanent in 2011.
• The stimulus phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan supported an additional 30,000 infrastructure projects that created immediate jobs and enhanced Canada's long-term economic growth and competitiveness.
• Investments totalling $9.2 billion, including ongoing funding, have been made in First Nations communities across Canada to build, operate, maintain and renovate community infrastructure on reserves.
• The Government has also made significant investments in its own portfolio of infrastructure assets, including for the repair and maintenance of federally-owned bridges, ports and airports, the modernization and expansion of border facilities, repairs to small craft harbours and the construction of a new harbour in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, and for repair and maintenance of federal engineering assets and federal buildings.  

The New Building Canada Plan

Building on this success, Economic Action Plan 2013 delivered a new Building Canada plan, the longest and largest federal investment in Canada's public infrastructure that will provide total funding of $70 billion over 10 years. Through this plan, the Government is providing federal support of over $53 billion, including over $47 billion in new funding over ten years, starting in 2014-15, for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects. This unprecedented level of federal funding is now flowing, helping to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories and municipalities. For example, the Government has announced New Building Canada Fund contributions for projects in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and is working with all provinces and territories to identify further priority infrastructure projects under the Fund. A total of $15 billion is available to provinces, territories and municipalities in this and the next two years to support their infrastructure projects. 

New Investments to Build and Renew Federal Infrastructure and On-reserve Schools

The Government of Canada is the custodian of a broad range of infrastructure and is committed to maintaining and improving federal infrastructure across the country. Investments in this critical infrastructure are a key element in our efforts to create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. Amongst other purposes, our infrastructure allows people and goods to move more freely and safely across the country, supports scientific innovation, and protects Canada's legendary natural heritage.

The Government is announcing $5.8 billion in new investments to build and renew federal infrastructure assets and on-reserve schools across the country. Of this investment, $5.1 billion will go towards modernizing and repairing important federal infrastructure assets, providing employment opportunities in communities across Canada and supporting services to Canadians that in turn contribute to Canada's long-term economic prosperity.

$500 million will be allocated to the repair and construction of on-reserve schools.

This long-term commitment to building and maintaining world-class infrastructure will create jobs and improve the quality of life of all Canadians.

The Government will invest:

• An additional $452 million over two years to maintain and improve infrastructure that supports military operations and helps to address the needs of military personnel and their families, including the Reserve Force.
• Up to $440 million over two years to expedite the replacement of aging border infrastructure in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. These investments will support the safe and efficient flow of travel and trade across the Canada's border with the United States. 
• An additional $323 million over this and the next two years for significant repairs, upgrades and new capabilities at federal laboratories and research facilities across Canada, improving  its ability to perform leading-edge research and support food safety and the regulation of food, plant and animal health, innovative businesses, and the protection of Canada's natural environment. 
• Over $118 million on a cash basis to support repairs, upgrades and the construction of new federal infrastructure assets essential for the transportation of people and goods, the safeguarding of Canada's sovereignty, the responsible development of our natural resources and the preservation of our natural heritage.
• Up to $2.6 billion over 5 years on a cash basis to support further improvements to the Parks Canada Agency's portfolio of assets in national parks, historic canals and heritage places.
• An additional $288 million over this and the next two fiscal years to accelerate repair and maintenance work at small craft harbours across Canada to provide fishermen on Canada's waterways and coasts with safe and accessible facilities.

The investment in Parks Canada is in addition to the $391.5 million for Parks Canada infrastructure announced in Economic Action Plan 2014, bringing the total new investment in Parks Canada close to $3 billion.

SOURCE Parks Canada