PREMIER ANNOUNCES $500 MILLION "BOOSTER SHOT" TO KEEP ECONOMY STRONG

Premier Brad Wall today announced that his government will speed up $500 million worth of infrastructure spending to ensure Saskatchewan's economy remains strong.

Last October, Wall announced that the province would spend $1.5 billion in the 2009-10 budget as part of its Ready for Growth infrastructure initiative. Today, the Premier said $500 million of that spending is being moved up to the current fiscal year to get projects underway more quickly and give Saskatchewan an "economic booster shot" in light of the global economic slowdown.

"Saskatchewan's economy is still very strong, but we are not immune to the economic turmoil and our government is taking steps to ensure Saskatchewan stays strong in the face of this economic storm," Wall said. "By moving forward on much-needed infrastructure projects now, we can help to ensure economic growth and job growth throughout 2009, and we can ensure Saskatchewan will be in good shape to come out of this economic downturn even stronger in the years ahead."

Wall made the announcement in an address to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) annual convention today in Saskatoon, and municipal infrastructure was the focus of today's announcement.

$131.6 million in provincial funding will be provided for municipal infrastructure projects throughout the province. $100 million in new funding will be delivered on a per capita basis to urban, rural and northern municipalities through a new Municipal Economic Enhancement Program.

$31.6 million in additional funding is being provided for new projects under the federal-provincial Building Canada Fund. Wall said he expects further announcements about specific Building Canada Fund projects to be made shortly.

Wall said he wanted to start with municipal projects because municipalities have serious infrastructure needs and are best able to get projects underway quickly.

"We wanted to make this announcement now - pre-budget - to give municipalities the opportunity to get these projects underway as quickly as possible, to address the infrastructure deficit, but also to create the economic activity and the construction jobs to see us through this economic turmoil," Wall said. "This is an unusual step, but these are extraordinary times. Our government will not sit idly by and simply hope that the storm passes. We will build to weather the storm."
Wall said in the coming days, other provincial ministers will be making further infrastructure announcements dealing with health facilities, housing, schools and highways.

Further information on the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program is available at www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/meep/.

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For more information, contact:

Ian Hanna
Executive Council
Regina
Cell: 306-530-3177

Jeff Welke
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Cell: 306-536-1185