Harper Government invests in Canada's economy and jobs

For immediate release

Public Infrastructure Investments Across the Country

GATINEAU, Quebec, January 17, 2012 – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, along with Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean–Carleton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, today announced that members of Parliament were announcing new investments of approximately $250 million, over the next five years, in public infrastructure projects across the country, for a total of $320 million in funding for these assets, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“The top priority of our Government remains the economy,” said Minister Ambrose. “Through our investments in public infrastructure, we are not only creating jobs across the country but also ensuring safe access to these structures for the public. The $320 million capital investments, combined with ongoing maintenance expenditures for this public infrastructure, are estimated to create or maintain about 7,000 jobs by the end of the five-year program.”

Over the next five years, the Harper Government will be undertaking a number of new infrastructure projects from coast to coast. The projects announced today include the rehabilitation of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge as well as repairs to the Alexandra Bridge and Chaudière Crossing located in the National Capital Region; the replacement of the controls and drives of the Burlington Lift Bridge in Hamilton, Ontario; the reconstruction of the Ontario Latchford Dam, and of the Des Allumettes Bridge located near Pembroke, Ontario; as well as a number of projects along the Alaska Highway in Northern British Columbia.

“It is important to Canadians to have safe infrastructure that they can rely on,” said Minister Ambrose. “I am pleased to see that we continue to maintain the highest standards for Canada’s roads, bridges and dams.”

The Government of Canada is committed to accountability and transparency. Public Works and Government Services Canada will be conducting a fair, open and transparent tendering process through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX).

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