Government of Canada Supports Important Upgrades to Chesley Street in Shediac Through the Small Communities Fund

SHEDIAC, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - July 13, 2015) - Infrastructure Canada

Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced $1,527,756 in federal funding for upgrades to Chesley Street in Shediac. Senator Stewart Olsen was joined by the Honourable Victor Boudreau, New Brunswick Minister of Health, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, and Minister responsible for Strategic Program Review, and Jacques LeBlanc, Mayor of the Town of Shediac.

The project involves upgrading and extending Chesley Street to meet the standards of a collector road, which will improve traffic flow. Given a boom in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors over the past two decades, the Town of Shediac has reached a point where traffic congestion is limiting community growth. These upgrades will reduce traffic-related problems and help pave the way for commercial and residential development.

The project announced today is among 39 projects recently approved for more than $85 million in joint funding under the Small Communities Fund in New Brunswick. These projects represent important investments in the drinking water, disaster mitigation and wastewater infrastructure that maintain safe, healthy communities. Once complete, the work will significantly improve key municipal services for residents and help boost regional development for years to come.

The $1-billion Small Communities Fund provides funding for priority public infrastructure projects that deliver on local needs across the country. Canada and New Brunswick will each provide $39,363,723 to support projects in New Brunswick communities with fewer than 100,000 residents over the course of the funding program. This will help address local infrastructure priorities and boost economies in small communities throughout the province well into the future.

Quick Facts:

• For the Shediac project, the Government of Canada will contribute up to one third of the total eligible project costs of $4,583,269, to a maximum of $1,527,756, under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-Small Communities Fund.
• The Government of New Brunswick will also contribute one third of the project costs up to $1,527,756.
• The Town of Shediac will be responsible for the remaining project costs.
• For the 39 projects altogether, the Government of Canada is providing up to one third of the total eligible costs to a maximum federal contribution of $28,420,281.
• The Province of New Brunswick will contribute up to $28,420,281 to these projects.
• New Brunswick communities will be responsible for the remaining costs of the 39 projects.

Quotes:

"Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, understands that by building stronger communities and modernizing and developing our infrastructure, we are creating jobs and opportunities and building a better Canada for future generations. The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live."

Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"This project represents important improvements to our transportation infrastructure here in the growing community of Shediac. We are proud of the partnership we have with Ottawa and the municipality to deliver new infrastructure and jobs that will help develop the local residential, commercial and institutional sectors."

The Honourable Victor Boudreau, New Brunswick Minister of Health, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, and Minister responsible for Strategic Program Review

"We are growing with several important projects under development, including the commercial and manufacturing zone along the south side of Highway 15. These changes and upgrades will improve our highway system and allow for continued growth and development in our municipality."

Jacques LeBlanc, Mayor of the Town of Shediac

Associated Links:

To learn more about the Small Communities Fund, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

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