Highway Improvements to Create Jobs in Alberta Funding Will Boost Local Economy

June 2, 2009 Highway improvements to create jobs in Alberta Funding will boost local economy

Edmonton... Rona Ambrose, Canada’s Minister of Labour; Jim Prentice, Canada’s Minister of the Environment; and Rob Merrifield, Canada’s Minister of State for Transport, joined with Lloyd Snelgrove, President of Alberta Treasury Board and Luke Ouellette, Minister of Alberta Transportation, to announce joint federal-provincial funding of up to $107.5 million for major highway improvement projects in Alberta. The funding is part of the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund announced earlier this year. “Stimulating our economy and keeping people working during these tough economic times is a top priority for our Government,” said Minister Merrifield. “The strong relationship between our two governments enables us to work together to help Alberta communities remain competitive and prosperous, while contributing to the long-term economic growth of our country.” “Our Government is fulfilling the commitments we made in Canada's Economic Action Plan,” said Minister Ambrose. “By investing in roads and highways, we will help give our economy the boost it needs, while also creating opportunities to keep Albertans working throughout these difficult times.” “These key investments will not only help Canada emerge from this economic downturn, but will also result in more dependable, efficient roads and highways that will ensure safer travel for commuters and travellers,” said Minister Prentice. The total cost of the highway improvements is estimated at $107.5 million. The projects include repaving work, lane widening, bridge twinning and various upgrades, which will relieve congestion and extend the life of public infrastructure. Through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Government of Canada will set aside up to $51.3 million and the Government of Alberta will set aside up to $53.8 million toward eligible project costs. The remaining $2.4 million will be provided by other sources. “The Province recognizes that capital projects are vital to the strength and growth of the overall economic capacity of Alberta, as our Capital Plan clearly demonstrates,” said Minister Snelgrove. “This investment from both levels of government builds on those objectives.” “This investment in highway improvements will address much-needed projects in the province and maintain and create jobs for Albertans,” said Minister Ouellette. “Alberta is pleased to continue to work in co-operation with the federal government on this and other shared funding programs.” The new federal $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects that will be built during this and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects that will be built during this year’s and next year’s construction seasons. Canada and Alberta are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure. Both governments have agreed to work together to ensure that these funds are delivered quickly and efficiently to municipalities in Alberta. The Government of Canada’s 2009 Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure across Canada with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years. Central to Alberta’s Budget 2009 is Alberta’s Capital Plan, which supports $7.2 billion in 2009-10 and a record $23.2 billion over three years to build roads, health care facilities, schools and other public infrastructure. This year’s investment alone will support over 80,000 jobs across the economy directly benefitting Albertans and Alberta communities. This capital investment complements the government’s four-point plan for economic recovery, which calls for keeping an eye on spending, using savings to protect programs and services for Albertans while keeping taxes low, continuing to invest in infrastructure, and promoting the province on the world stage. -30- For further information on federal infrastructure investments in Alberta, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. Backgrounder: Canada and Alberta support highway improvements Media inquiries may be directed to: Chris Day Jerry Bellikka Press Secretary Alberta Transportation Office of Canada’s Transport and Communications Infrastructure Minister 780-237-5509 613-991-0700 To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. Infrastructure Canada 613-948-1148 June 2, 2009

Canada and Alberta support highway improvements Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a new $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. The total cost of the highway improvements is estimated at $107.5 million. Through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Government of Canada is setting aside up to $51.3 million and the Government of Alberta is setting aside up to $53.7 million. An additional $2.4 million is being provided by other sources of funding. This comes on top of the up to $63.6 million in stimulus funding previously announced for early transit projects in Calgary and Edmonton, and the up to $15 million for Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame to be built in Calgary. The latest projects to be funded under the ISF will see major improvements to highways throughout the province, including: Highway 2 improvements to 32nd Avenue near Deerfoot right-of-way reconstruction and widening of 1.6 km from Beddington Trail to 64th Avenue improvements and upgrades to Glenmore Trail at the Hwy 2 interchange bridge twinning at 196th Avenue Hwy 9 paving of 13.5 km from east of Hwy 836 to east of Hwy 840 Hwy 11A upgrades to Diamond Conversion interchange to improve traffic safety Hwy 43X upgrades to 6.7 km of highway and service roads from 116 Street (R.R. #63) to Hwy 2 and Hwy 43 intersection north of Grande Prairie Hwy 58 13.7 km of grade widening and repaving east of Chinchaga River to Sixth Meridian 15.7 km of grade widening and repaving within right-of-way from south of Negus River to west of High Level, including the bridge culvert 23.3 km of grading work to Garden River Road from east of the Wentzel River to the Wood Buffalo Park Boundary to convert Garden River Road to Hwy 58 Federal financial support for these infrastructure improvement projects is conditional on meeting all applicable federal eligibility and approval requirements for infrastructure funding and the signing of appropriate contribution agreements. -30-

Media inquiries may be directed to: Chris Day Jerry Bellikka Press Secretary Alberta Transportation Office of Canada’s Transport and Communications Infrastructure Minister 780-237-5509 613-991-0700 To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. Infrastructure Canada 613-948-1148