FRANCAIS

February 28, 2003

THE PAS, Manitoba – The Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program will provide $3.3 million to support improved recreational and social opportunities, as well as better access to clean drinking water, for residents in The Pas and in the surrounding rural municipality of Kelsey. Community recreational services will be improved in The Pas, while more RM of Kelsey residents will turn on their taps for safe drinking water.

Premier Gary Doer and Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), announced the funding today during visits to The Pas, Thompson and Dauphin.

"Manitobans deserve social and recreational opportunities no matter where they live in the province, and redevelopment of The Pas Community Multiplex will help meet that goal," said Doer. "Access to safe water is another priority for Manitoba, and with the help of the ‘green’ emphasis in the infrastructure program, more residents of the RM of Kelsey will soon be able to drink the water that flows from their taps."

"The Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program is extremely effective because it employs a collaborative approach to municipal infrastructure," said Owen. "All levels of government are listening closely to the concerns of northern Manitobans and we are working together to respond. Today’s announcement is an example of this successful approach."

Under the infrastructure program, the federal, provincial and local governments are each contributing $666,666 towards the redevelopment of the town’s recreation complex. The Province of Manitoba is also contributing an additional $500,000 of infrastructure funding to the project. This facility also serves the RM of Kelsey and other surrounding communities.

"By working in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, the Town of The Pas will be able to provide better recreational and social opportunities for our residents," said Gary Hopper, Mayor of The Pas. "Fostering a healthy, active lifestyle is very important, and is something we are always striving towards."

The program is also contributing $800,000, consisting of one-third equal shares from the federal, provincial and local governments, towards the completion of the RM of Kelsey’s ongoing regional water project. In this third phase of construction, over 100 households will be connected to the new water supply system. In phases one and two, the water reservoir, well and main water lines were built and approximately 83 households were able to turn on their taps for fresh drinking water.

The province, through the Manitoba Water Services Board; the federal government, through the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and, the RM of Kelsey have also each contributed a further $1 million to other phases of this project.

"Several years ago, a group of citizens formed a Committee to establish an alternate water supply to the Carrot River Valley, as the quality and quantity of potable drinking water was in jeopardy," said Sandy Thwaites, Reeve for the RM of Kelsey. "Thanks to the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program, the Province of Manitoba, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, and residents of the municipality, the reality of potable drinking water has finally come true. The R.M. of Kelsey is in the final stages of the rural water pipeline project and will be finishing construction this summer, by which time over 230 residences will be receiving an excellent supply of potable drinking water."

On October 11, 2000, the governments of Canada and Manitoba entered into a new Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program, bringing over $180 million in infrastructure opportunities to Manitoba. All projects are subject to federal and provincial environmental processes before final approval is granted.

While the primary focus of the program is green municipal infrastructure, recreational centres are eligible for funding under the program’s secondary focus of local infrastructure. This includes transportation, cultural and recreational projects, tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for public institutions, and affordable housing.

Prior to today’s announcement, over 116 projects had already been announced representing a total investment of more than $135 million in Manitoba. For information on projects previously announced, visit the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program Web site at: http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca.

– 30 –