Government of Canada Has Invested Over $33.4 Million in Stimulus Throughout the Riding of Macleod

September 10, 2009

Ottawa – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has invested more than $33.4 million throughout the riding of Macleod through the Building Canada Fund, National Trails Coalition, Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program and Sport’s Canada Hosting Program.

On September 2, new federal funding was announced for residents of Okotoks:

• $22 million in joint federal-provincial investments to upgrade 32nd Street and the Canadian Pacific Rail crossing in Okotoks.
  
  

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 river.  Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2009.

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

The new federal $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund provides funding to provincial, territorial and 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.


On July 24, Ted was pleased to announce the following funding for the first time:

• $184,400 to the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass to develop 27 kilometres of asphalt trail from Emerald Lake at the west end to Leitch Collieries at the east end.
• $14,667 to complete a comprehensive infrastructure study of all major infrastructure systems in the village of Arrowwood.
• $125,000 to the Crowsnest Quad Squad.
• $25,000 to the Crow Snow Riders.
• $94,833 to the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association.
• $42,250 to the Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance.
• $22,500 to the Southern Alberta Regional Trail Riders Association.

The remainder of the $33.4 million will fund the following projects at home in Macleod:

• $1,370,033 to upgrade the Bragg Creek Potable Water Treatment Plant in Rocky View.
• $91,833  to upgrade the Pincher Creek Multi-purpose facility with solar power.
• $333,333 to rehabilitate the town’s Performing Arts Center in Okotoks.
• $3,000,000 to upgrade 5th St. SE in High River.
• $3,000,000 to extend 498 Avenue in Foothills.
• $19,966 to upgrade their village playground to improve safety, function and appearance of park in Arrowwood.
• $616,667 to complete the expansion of the sanitary lagoon in Arrowwood.
• $247,690 to complete servicing of the water and wastewater lines and meters in Black Diamond.
• $1,022,000 to complete upgrades to the South Sanitary Sewer in Claresholm.
• $641,381 to complete the replacement of water and sewer lines East of Blairmore.
• $255,900 to complete the replacement of water and sewer lines on 208 Street from 23 Avenue to Old Highway 3 in Crowsnest Pass.
• $1.2 million to complete upgrades to water and sewer systems on 21st Street in Nanton.
• $1 million to complete upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and collection system in Bragg Creek.
• $983,000 to complete upgrades to the Sheep River Inter-municipal Library in Turner Valley.
• $2,203,279 to complete the relocation of the sewage lagoon in Vulcan.
• $145,860 to complete upgrades to Brobbel East Road near Fort Macleod.
• $3,000,000 to complete servicing of Lower Kananaskis Lake Cottage Subdivision in Lower Kananaskis Lake Cottage Subdivision.
• $2,550,000 to upgrade Highway 22 from north of junction with Highway 1 to south of the junction with Highway 1A.
• $250,000 to the World Water Ski Championships at Lakes of Kastynstone which is taking place from August 3-9, 2009.

 “I am pleased that residents throughout the riding of Macleod will be able to benefit from this additional funding.” said Menzies. “I have witnessed and experienced first-hand the benefits to many of these great projects such as the beautiful national trails which revitalize recreational activities.”

“Getting shovels in the ground sooner for these projects will be beneficial to each community, and in turn, to Alberta.” continued Menzies. “At a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest, these projects will enhance services and create local jobs.”

Federal and Provincial contributions coupled with municipal and other contributions in local infrastructure improvements in Alberta has provided the first steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Alberta communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

Over 450 trail projects will benefit from the Government’s $25 million investment in recreational trails, as part of the Government’s Economic Action Plan. The funds will be used to create, upgrade and sustain recreational trails throughout Canada. The first payment of $12.5 million is part of the Government of Canada’s $25 million commitment that will be matched by the NTC and their provincial, territorial, municipal or private funding partners for eligible projects.

For more information on Building Canada, please visit: www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.