The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan continue to invest in infrastructure during this extraordinary time to meet the needs of communities and create jobs to address the impact of COVID-19.
Today, Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations, Don McMorris, announced more than $6.8 million in joint funding for 12 infrastructure projects across the province.
The funding will go toward replacing culverts and bridges across Saskatchewan that have reached the end of their service life. Rural bridges are key to the ability to efficiently move goods and services on the local transportation network. Replacing culverts reduces the risk of flooding, improves road conditions, and results in a more reliable rural road network.
Providing communities with reliable and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.1 million in these projects under the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, as well as a further $716,974 to four of the projects under the Gas Tax Fund, for a combined federal investment of over $1.8 million. For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met. The Government of Saskatchewan is also contributing over $2.2 million toward these projects. Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are $2.7 million. Funding recipients are responsible for any additional project costs.
“This federal investment of more than $1.8 million will help replace bridges and culverts across Saskatchewan and allow our communities to build back better, while creating jobs and building stronger, more inclusive communities,” Carr said. “By working with our provincial partners, we’re delivering for rural communities in Saskatchewan, and across Canada.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan’s $2.2 million investment toward these transportation projects will support a more robust rural road network,” McMorris said. “Once completed, these bridges and culverts will allow for the efficient movement of goods, services and agricultural products in rural Saskatchewan, which will protect local economies recovering from the pandemic.”
Quick facts
- Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
- $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure that meets the unique needs of rural and northern communities, like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity.
- In Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada has invested more than $776 million in over 1,900 infrastructure projects in communities under 100,000 since 2015 under the Investing in Canada Plan.
Associated links
- Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html
- Investing in Canada Plan Project Map http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map
- Federal infrastructure investments in Saskatchewan https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-sk-eng.html
