KENORA:  Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, met with the mayors in Kenora, Vermillion Bay, Dryden and Red Lake to announce joint federal, provincial and municipal funding for key infrastructure projects throughout the riding. He will be heading to Sioux Lookout for further announcements later in the week.  The green light on these projects reflect the commitment of all levels of government to stimulating the Ontario economy by reducing red tape, creating jobs for Ontarians, and getting shovels in the ground sooner.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to nearly $15 million for projects in the riding of Kenora alone. The municipalities will contribute the remaining third of the total eligible project costs.

“It has been a priority for me to work closely with Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Michael Gravelle, and all of the municipalities in my riding to ensure that their projects are moving forward in Ottawa, and that funds flow immediately,” says Rickford.  “I am ecstatic that our three levels of government have worked together successfully, and that spending can begin today.  I am committed to creating jobs in all areas of my riding including First Nation communities to which I was fortunate enough to have recently announced significant funding for their winter road network.  funding commitments reaffirm the importance of partnership in accomplishing significant and positive change in our communities, our province and our country.”

These projects will enhance local facilities and services and create local jobs when the need for economic stimulus is greatest.  They include:
                                   

• Waste Water Sewage Treatment Plant Renewal in Dryden - $9,966,666
• Airport Terminal Building Replacement in Balmertown - $1,437,233
• Water Quality Enhancement Project in Kenora - $1,000,000
• Local Road infrastructure:  McKenzie Portage, Ena Lake Road, Keewatin Surface Refurbishment - $43,217
• Waste Water – Seventh Avenue Critical Link Project in Sioux Lookout - $1,235,322
• Nestor Falls Airstrip Resurfacing in Sioux Narrows - $830,640
• Cascade Road Bridge Renovation in Vermillion Bay - $151,416
• Redditt waterline in Redditt - $127,710

Total federal share for the riding of Kenora: $14,792,204

These projects are part of 289 across the province that will soon break ground thanks to a federal-provincial-municipal investment of more than $1 Billion.  The governments of Canada and Ontario have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Ontario communities for the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

Because the federal and provincial governments understand that infrastructure investments will stimulate the economy, nearly 85 per cent of project applications were approved for funding.

“I look forward to seeing shovels in the ground and watching as construction progresses and continuing to celebrate our region’s successes with my constituents in this great riding of Kenora,” concluded Rickford. 

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