Canada's Infrastructure Minister tours Southwestern and Southcentral British Columbia to highlight benefits of federal investments for British Columbians Français
VANCOUVER, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in public infrastructure is about job creation today that improves the long-term health of communities, creating hometowns where families can live, work and play.
This week, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, will visit key infrastructure projects in cities across Southwestern and Southcentral British Columbia to see firsthand the progress being made, hear from communities and the workers building the projects on the ground about progress and ensure that the benefits to the government's historic investments are being swiftly realized for the hard-working British Columbians.
On February 11th, Minister Champagne will begin by touring the Port of Vancouver, after which he will launch the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, as well as visit the construction sites of the Highway 91 project in Delta, BC and the Highway 1 and 216 Street Interchange project in Langley, BC.
On February 12th, Minister Champagne will visit the site of the Mt. Lehman Rd to Abbotsford International Airport widening project and participate in a discussion with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce during their annual Key Business Stakeholders roundtable.
On February 13th, Minister Champagne will visit the University of Fraser Valley's Chilliwack campus where he will update the members of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce on Canada's Investing in Canada Plan, finishing the day in Merritt, BC, where he will visit the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.
On February 14th, Minister Champagne will be in Kamloops, BC, where he will be making stops to visit a local bus terminal using the innovative NextRide technology, and he will join local mayors from the Thompson Nicola Regional District Mfor a roundtable discussion.
Quotes
"Canada becomes an even greater place to call home when we invest in resilient and modern infrastructure that offers real, tangible benefits to all Canadians. These investments result in improved public transit that helps residents spend less time in traffic on their way to work and more time with their families; in better community facilities that bring Canadians closer together to develop a sense of belonging; and in more sophisticated highways and trade routes that make Canada a more competitive country that attracts and retains talent. These investments in public infrastructure offer Canadians more opportunities to thrive and for Canada's economy to continue to prosper."
—François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada's Investing in Canada plan is providing more than $180 billion over 12 years for public infrastructure across the country.
- In partnership with British Columbia and municipal leaders, the Government of Canada is investing in public transit; green infrastructure such as water treatment systems; community, culture and recreational infrastructure; and public infrastructure in rural and northern communities.
- The Canada-British Columbia Bilateral Agreement will provide $4.1 billion in predictable, long-term funding for the public infrastructure that matters most to British Columbians. To date, over 326 projects under this agreement have been approved.
- Through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, British Columbia has been able to purchase or upgrade over 185 new buses, purchase 82 new rail transit cars and refurbish 6 existing ones, and upgrade 6 public transit stations.
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
For more information, or to arrange an interview with the Minister, please contact: Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-697-3778, [email protected]
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