Canada and New Brunswick to make significant investments that will improve the lives of Canadians

$673 million available for projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

FREDERICTON, March 15, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and New Brunswick are working together to make long-term infrastructure investments to create economic growth, build inclusive communities and support a low carbon, green economy–leading to a higher quality of life for all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick, announced the signing of a bilateral agreement that will provide more than $673 million over the next decade in federal funding dedicated to infrastructure projects under the Investing in Canada plan. The projects supported through this agreement will be cost-shared with the provincial government, municipalities and other partners.

This new funding will see the Government of Canada make unprecedented investments in public transit, green infrastructure, recreational and cultural infrastructure, and rural and northern communities infrastructure.

These investments will have benefits for people in communities across the province, including:

• Faster commute and travel time for more people, and easier movement of goods for businesses
• Cleaner air and water
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Smarter and more efficient cities
• Sustainable water management
• Enhanced public parks, recreational facilities and other spaces that make communities great places to live
• Better transportation and digital infrastructure for people living in remote communities

Across Canada, more than $33 billion in federal funding will be invested through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. Provinces and territories will develop three-year plans that will provide information on how they will implement their infrastructure projects.

Quotes

"Long-term investments in infrastructure are key to building a strong Canada–connecting people, creating good jobs for the middle class, and building our economy and our communities for the future. We are pleased to reach a new agreement with New Brunswick to invest in infrastructure projects that will benefit communities of all sizes for years to come. Collaboration and partnership have been at the heart of the success of our Investing in Canada plan and we will continue to work with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast."  

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Your government's multi-year economic growth plan includes investing in New Brunswick's infrastructure to create jobs. Infrastructure investments help stimulate the economy and improve the quality of life of New Brunswickers."

The Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick

Quick facts 

• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Under the first phase of the plan, Infrastructure Canada has approved nearly 3,500 projects across Canada worth a combined investment of more than $8.4 billion.
• As part of the Plan, Infrastructure Canada will deliver $33 billion over the next decade through new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories under four funding streams:
• $20.1 billion for public transit;
• $9.2 billion for green infrastructure;
• $1.3 billion for community, cultural and recreational infrastructure; and
• $2.4 billion for wide-ranging infrastructure needs in rural and northern communities
• This marks the third new long-term infrastructure bilateral agreement the Government of Canada has signed with provincial and territorial partners.

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Backgrounder

Canada and New Brunswick to make significant investments that will improve the lives of Canadians 
$673 million available for projects that build prosperous communities and transition to a clean growth economy

Under the $180 billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is signing new bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories, which will see more than $33 billion in federal investment towards significant infrastructure projects across the country. The objective of these investments is to transform the way Canadians live, move and work in four priority areas:

• Public transit;
• Green infrastructure;
• Community, culture, and recreation infrastructure; and
• Rural and northern communities.

New Brunswick Funding Allocations

The table below shows the allocations for New Brunswick by funding stream from 2018-2028 which amounts to $673,217,569.

Funding Stream	Allocation	Expected Outcomes at Project Completion*
Public Transit	$165,202,662 to build new urban transit networks and service extensions that will transform the way Canadians live, move and work.	Improved capacity of public transit infrastructure Improved quality and safety of existing and future transit systems Improved access to public transit systems
Green Infrastructure	$347,151,232 to support greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions; enable greater adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change and climate-related disaster mitigation, and ensure that more communities can provide clean air and safe drinking water for their citizens.	Increased capacity to manage more renewable energy Increased access to clean energy transportation Increased energy efficiency of buildings Increased generation of clean energy Increased structural capacity and increased natural capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, natural disasters and extreme weather events Increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater Increased access to potable water Increased capacity to reduce or remediate soil and air pollutants
Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure	$46,230,038 towards community, culture and recreation infrastructure to build stronger communities and improve social inclusion.	Improved access to and increased quality of community, cultural and recreational infrastructure for Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable populations
Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure	$114,633,636 to support projects that improve the quality of life in rural and northern communities by responding to rural and northern specific needs.	Improved food security Improved and more reliable road, air and marine infrastructure Improved broadband connectivity More efficient and reliable energy Improved education and health facilities that benefit Indigenous peoples (specific to Truth and Reconciliation Commission)

* Outcomes will be obtained through projects which will be communicated in more details as they are announced.

The bilateral agreement will allow the Government of Canada and New Brunswick to agree on shared results as well as a method of reporting on results on a regular basis. The bilateral agreement supports the following long-term results:

• Increase the rate of economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable way;
• Improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency of communities;
• Improve mobility in Canadian communities;
• Make Canadian communities more inclusive and accessible; and
• Manage infrastructure in a more sustainable way.

Under this new bilateral agreement, the Government of Canada will not only make significant investments in Canadian communities, but also open the door to unique and innovative project ideas that meet the agreed-upon outcomes. These new ideas will contribute to the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure.

In order to ensure our partners consider opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or better adapt to climate change during the project development stage, a new climate lens will be applied for certain projects. Additionally, partners will also report on how larger projects are creating job opportunities for a broader array of Canadians in the construction industry and related sectors through a new Community Employment Benefits framework.

For information on cost-sharing, please see Infrastructure Canada's website.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ Investing in Canada plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

*New* – Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in New Brunswick: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/nb-eng.html

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Sarah Williams, Communications, Regional Development Corporation, 506-444-6784, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/