Additional Funding for electric cable project provides affordable, cleaner energy in PEI

BORDEN-CARLETON, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwired - Oct. 21, 2016) - The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are making infrastructure investments that will help create jobs, grow the middle class, and support a high standard of living for Canadians and their families.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, today announced an additional $18.9 million in federal funding for the Northumberland Strait Submarine Transmission System project. This brings the Government of Canada's total contribution to the project up to a maximum of $68.9 million, representing 50 per cent of the total eligible project cost. The Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island, joined Minister MacAulay for the announcement. The provincial portion of the project cost is $73.6 million.

Spanning 17 kilometres from Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, to Borden, Prince Edward Island, the submarine transmission system supplies approximately 75% of the Island's electricity. Installing the two new 180 Megawatts power cables will promote economic prosperity by providing uninterrupted service for Islanders and cost-efficient energy for business owners and all Islanders. It will also contribute to ongoing efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels by building a cleaner electricity supply that contributes to sustainable economic development.

The Government of Canada's support for this project builds on the commitment made in July 2016 to develop an Atlantic Growth Strategy that includes provisions for key infrastructure projects to support long-term growth and help the region capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is providing unprecedented funding for public infrastructure projects that create jobs, strengthen the middle class and promote long-term prosperity. This project is among the most important infrastructure initiatives to be undertaken on Prince Edward Island and will foster economic growth by supporting job creation and reducing energy costs for residents and businesses. It will also contribute to sustainable development by providing a cleaner electricity supply and reducing the use of fossil fuels."

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The federal government is committed to engaging with our regional partners to make sure they have the support required to build sustainable communities. I'm very pleased to see this approach demonstrating results on Prince Edward Island through the funding of such an essential project, which will yield widespread benefits for years to come."

The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque

"Providing reliable, affordable and increasingly renewable energy is essential to fostering economic growth and securing prosperity for our province. The new electricity connection will secure our province's energy future, support business growth and protect Islanders against the risk associated with the existing aging cables."

The Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island

"A new and larger capacity cable interconnection has been the Province's top infrastructure priority. Although Prince Edward Island generates approximately 25 percent of its own electricity from wind, Islanders still must have access to reliable off-Island power. This will be achieved through this new interconnection to mainland Canada."

The Honourable Paula Biggar, Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy

Associated links

Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada's new $120-billion infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html.

Federal infrastructure investments in Prince Edward Island: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html.

Green Infrastructure Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/gif-fiv-eng.html

New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

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