Canada’s Economic Action Plan funds Okotoks Road Work

September 02, 2009

Okotoks, Alberta – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and George Groeneveld, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and MLA for Highwood, announced that residents of Okotoks will benefit from up to $22 million in joint federal-provincial investments to upgrade 32nd Street and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) crossing in Okotoks.  

“Today’s investment is an example of our Government’s commitment to work in partnership with the province to boost our economy and create jobs for Albertans,” said Menzies. “This important road work in Okotoks will create local jobs in the short-term and provide a more modern and safe bridge crossing in the long-term.”

“This co-investment will address this much-needed road and bridge project in Okotoks,” said Minister Groeneveld. “It will also help keep Albertans working – one of the province’s priorities in these economic times.”

The project involves the construction of a two-lane roadway, a road bridge and CPR grade-separated crossing on the 32nd Street alignment over the Sheep River. The project will provide a critical second road crossing over the river.  Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2009.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta will provide up to $11 million each, and the Town of Okotoks will provide the remaining $11 million for this $33-million project. Federal funding comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“Okotoks has grown 85% over the past eight years,” said Mayor Bill McAlpine. “The 32nd Street Bridge is required to service our current and future population.”

The new federal $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects that will be built during this year’s and next year’s construction seasons. The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years.

Central to Alberta’s Budget 2009 is Alberta’s Capital Plan, which supports $7.7 billion in 2009-10 and a record $23.7 billion over three years to build roads, health care facilities, schools and other public infrastructure. This year’s investment alone will support over 80,000 jobs across the economy directly benefitting Albertans and Alberta communities. This capital investment complements the government’s four-point plan for economic recovery, which calls for keeping a close eye on government spending, drawing down our savings to protect the programs and services Albertans depend on, continuing to invest in public infrastructure to support jobs and the economy, and promoting the province to a global market, while working to reduce the costs of doing business.

Canada and Alberta are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure. Both governments have agreed to work together to ensure that these funds are delivered quickly and efficiently to municipalities in Alberta.