Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Calvert announce $164 million to improve highways in Saskatchewan (including $5 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund)

• Backgrounder

Regina, Saskatchewan, March 5, 2003 - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert today announced their governments' commitment of $164 million to highway improvements in Saskatchewan, including completing the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and of the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway 16 between North Battleford and Alberta.

"The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have agreed that the twinning of these sections of the National Highway System is the top joint infrastructure priority in Saskatchewan," said Prime Minister Chrétien. "I am very confident today's announcement will have a major impact on the economy of Saskatchewan as well as on the economies of neighbouring provinces."

"The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to receive significant funding for the twinning initiative on our National Highway System," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "This major contribution toward twinning will help accelerate the twinning schedule and will save lives and increase economic opportunities in Saskatchewan."

Today's announcement will complete funding of the twinning of Highway 1 between Indian Head and the Manitoba border, Highway 1 between Gull Lake and the Alberta border, and Highway 16 between North Battleford and Lloydminster. Funding will also be made available to improve the flow of people and goods on Highway 39, leading to the North Portal border crossing.

The $82-million Government of Canada contribution to these projects will be made through three programs:

• $65 million from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF);
• $12 million from a previously announced contribution to Saskatchewan under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP); and
• $5 million from the Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF). The Government of Saskatchewan will match this $82-million contribution.

Through the $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada is working with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to respond to strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. These investments are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians.

The $600-million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program is a Government of Canada initiative to work in collaboration with the provinces to address the most pressing issues related to the National Highway System. The program will help provide all Canadians with a safer and more efficient highway system.

The $600-million Border Infrastructure Fund was established to help reduce border congestion, expand infrastructure capacity over the medium term, co-ordinate with adjacent American border facility and road access, support the implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan, and enhance safety and security at border crossings.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. The federal Budget 2003 reaffirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, including $1 billion for municipal infrastructure. In combination with the $5.25 billion in infrastructure programs announced in Budget 2000 and 2001, this brings the federal government's recent investment in the nation's infrastructure to over $8 billion.

Today's announcements bring the Government of Canada's investment in Saskatchewan's infrastructure since 1994 to over $405 million.

For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit: http://www.tc.gc.ca/

For further information contact:

PMO Press Office
(613) 957-5555

Rob Cunningham
Office of the Premier of Saskatchewan
(306) 787-6349

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Backgrounder

Government of Canada contribution to highway improvements in Saskatchewan

The Government of Canada will invest $5 million will be provided through the Border Infrastructure Fund for the rehabilitation of Highway 39 and associated highway improvements to improve the flow of goods to and from the United States.

Highway 39 is Saskatchewan's primary north-south export highway and is a component of the National Highway System. The highway accommodates the vast majority of Saskatchewan's international traffic through North Portal, which is among Canada's busiest. Approximately $6 billion in trade and 100,000 trucks use the North Portal crossing each year. The project will rehabilitate segments of the highway between Weyburn and the US Border to ensure the consistent movement of people and freight between Canada and US. The project will be completed by 2007.