August 19, 2010
$7.3 Millions for New Stimulus Projects in Sea to Sky Corridor

WEST VANCOUVER – Five more infrastructure projects will get underway stretching from West Vancouver and up the Sea to Sky corridor this construction season, thanks to $42 million in Infrastructure Stimulus Fund contract savings.

“These are all additional projects that have been made possible through the prudent fiscal management of our infrastructure stimulus funds,” says West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre. “Now, because of savings through our government’s competitive bidding system, we were able to free up more funds that will make for an even smoother, safer ride throughout the Sea to Sky corridor as well as better BC Ferries passenger services at Horseshoe Bay.”

“The Government of Canada is committed to creating jobs, strengthening our economy, and ensuring the safety and well-being of Canadians,” says West Vancouver's Member of Parliament, John Weston. “We are pleased to partner with British Columbia on these highway improvement projects that will lead to safer roads for residents and visitors across this province, ‘the best place on earth.’"

The list of five new projects for a total of $7.3 million includes:

• The federal and provincial governments are each contributing $650,000 toward the total cost of $1.3 million to build an overhead walkway at B.C. Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay Terminal
• The federal government is contributing $1.7 million and the province is providing $2.3 million toward the total cost of $4 million to resurface Highway 99 - Whistler (Function Junction and Lorimer)
• The federal government is contributing $450,000 and the province is providing $550,000 toward the total cost of $1 million to resurface the Highway 1 - Horseshoe Bay Underpass
• The federal government is contributing $275,000 and the province is providing $335,000 toward the total cost of $610,000 to resurface the Highway 1 - Squamish Underpass
• The federal government is contributing $157,500 and the province is providing $192,500 toward the total cost of $350,000 to resurface the Highway 1 - Eagleridge Underpass

These five projects are among twenty-one across the province through funding made available as the result of savings achieved through competitive bids on previously announced provincial Infrastructure Stimulus Fund highway projects. It is estimated these new projects will create more than 270 direct jobs. Of the $42 million invested, $38 million is eligible under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund – split equally between Canada and B.C.

Of the 21 projects announced today, 18 are improvements to highway and road infrastructure throughout the province. The remaining three projects are improvements to BC Ferries facilities in Campbell River, Langdale and Horseshoe Bay. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2011.

The federal contribution to these projects comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. Since March 2009, over 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $500 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.

Since October 2008, over $5.3 billion has been committed for accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, which is estimated to generate more than 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects.

Visit Joan’s website at www.joanmcintyremla.bc.ca

Visit John’s website at http://www.johnweston.ca

-30-