INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING ACCELERATED

The Provincial Government is accelerating $56.9 million in infrastructure funding to municipalities, helping Saskatchewan communities move forward on needed projects as the 2010 construction season draws near.

"Our government's investment in needed municipal infrastructure projects helps maintain and build economic momentum in our province," Municipal Affairs Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Getting dollars to municipalities in a timely way bolsters local economies where jobs are created and where business is generated for the construction and local service industries."

This accelerated investment is part of $100 million that Saskatchewan's Ministry of Municipal Affairs is providing this year to municipalities for infrastructure projects.

Projects approved under the Building Canada Fund - Communities Component (BCF-CC) will receive $42.5 million of the accelerated funding. Safe drinking water, wastewater, recreation, local road and bridge improvements are among the project categories targeted to communities with populations of less than 100,000.

In addition, there will be $13 million accelerated this year to Provincial Territorial Base funded projects (PT Base) and $1.4 million for Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component (BCF-MIC) funded projects.

"Municipalities welcome accelerated investment," Harrison said. "It is part of the historic investment of more than $1 billion that our municipal, provincial and federal governments have committed to municipal infrastructure from 2008-09 through 2013-14."

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For more information, contact:

Jeff Welke
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6156
Email: Jeff.Welke@gov.sk.ca