GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN CREATE JOBS, BUILD COMMUNITIES - ELBOW

Residents of the Village of Elbow will benefit from joint federal and provincial funding to loop existing water mains. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and Thunder Creek MLA Lyle Stewart. This project is just one example of the commitment of all three levels of government to strengthen the Saskatchewan economy by creating jobs for the people of Saskatchewan and getting shovels in the ground sooner.

"Our Government is proud to invest in this community water main project which will bring safer water to the residents of Elbow," Yelich said. "Our government's collaboration with the province of Saskatchewan on projects like this will help stimulate the economy, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Saskatchewan families."

This project will enhance local services and create local jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest. A looped system will reduce the risk of contaminating the water supply from dead-ends and increasing capacity of the system for future growth.

"The province continues to work in partnership with municipalities and the federal government to make infrastructure a priority in Saskatchewan," Stewart said. "This local water main project will address ongoing water system problems for the Village of Elbow and surrounding areas."

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan will each invest up to $62,384 in the project. The Village of Elbow will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $187,153.

"This infrastructure grant for a new water line will mean increased water quality, water pressure and an assured water supply to a growing section of our village," Village of Elbow Mayor David Cross said. "It also provides more incentives for developers to develop vacant land in the area."

This is one of 145 projects announced under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund that will break ground quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of over $227 million. Together with municipal contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in Saskatchewan for the Building Canada Communities Component exceeds $340 million. The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or http://www.canada-saskbcf-cc.ca/index.html.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/

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For more information, contact:

Lisa Hutniak
Minister's Office
Email: Lisa.Hutniak@wd-deo.gc.ca

Jill Welke
Director, Communications
Phone: (306) 787-2687