An extension of the Progressive Conservatives federal Economic Action Plan will ensure several important road projects that could not be completed in the MD of Bonnyville last fall will be completed early this spring, said Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth, during a funding announcement trip to Bonnyville Feb. 24.
“Our national economy remains our government's top priority and that's why we need to keep working,” said Storseth, who announced $2.4 million in funding to the MD of Bonnyville to complete several road projects that started in 2011, as well as $1.1 million to the Town of Bonnyville to complete road projects on 45th Avenue and 53rd Avenue A.
The Infrastructure Replacement project funding in Bonnyville was one of 80 funding announcements made across the country on the same day to show Canadians the federal government remains committed to its Economic Action Plan, which has created 460,000 new jobs since it started in July of 2009, said Storseth.
“These upgrades to the Infrastructure Replacement project have created local jobs and economic growth and will improve the lives of residents in the area so that Canadian families continue to prosper for years,” he said.
Storseth said Canada's economic recovery is still fragile, even though Canada has emerged from the worldwide recession better than any of its G7 counterparts.
“That is why we must stay on track and continue to focus on the economy,” he said.
Canada's Economic Action Plan has provided close to $16 billion to upgrade and build a broad range of infrastructure across Canada, including roads and highways, bridges, public transit, parks and water treatment facilities and to support home ownership, stimulate the housing sector and improve housing across the country, he said.
The plan has worked as Canada has now benefited from five consecutive quarters of economic growth and our national unemployment rate is now lower than that in the United States, he said.
This new infrastructure money announced across the country last week is highlighted to show just how much his government's economic recovery plan has helped Canadians survive and recover from the worst recession since the Second World War, he said.
“We're proud of what we've done,” he said.
Canada was “in the middle of the pack” among G7 nations back in 2009 when the worldwide recession hit hard, but has emerged with the strongest economy two years later, with the Economic Action Plan created by the federal Tories the biggest reason in this turnaround, he said.
MD of Bonnyville Reeve Ed Rondeau said federal government, provincial government and MD agreed to a $9 million roads project last year, which was earmarked to rebuild and pave nine miles of MD roads.
Because of excessive rain and poor weather last summer and fall, four projects that were in the late stages of completion could not be finished in 2010 will now be finished soon after the snow melts and frost lifts, Rondeau said.
Those projects include a one-mile stretch of road near Therien, three miles near Dupre, two miles north of Town of Bonnyville limits on 46th St. near the MD of Bonnyville public works shop and two miles near Country Lane Estates near Cold Lake.
“None of this $2.4 million is new money because that's the federal government's portion promised to finish these projects,” he said. “But we're very pleased they honoured that commitment and gave this money to extend these projects and let them finish them early this year.”
