Canadians everywhere have felt the impact of COVID-19 on their families, their livelihoods, and their way of life. Canada and Saskatchewan have worked together to ensure health and safety, support families and businesses, and sustain local economies. Investments in infrastructure during this extraordinary time provide an opportunity to enhance citizens' quality of life and meet the needs of growing communities while creating jobs at a time when they are most needed.
Jim Carr, the Government of Canada's Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Saskatchewan's Government Relations Minister Don McMorris, announced more than $50.2 million in joint funding for 55 infrastructure projects across the province. The projects are funded under the new COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Among other projects, the funding will go toward the construction of a new community centre in Kinistino, which will house the town office, a rental hall, a daycare and a library. Active transportation networks will be expanded or improved in the Battlefords, Estevan, Kindersley, La Ronge, Swift Current and Yorkton helping to enhance mobility connections and the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. New walking pathways will connect the Flying Dust First Nation community to Meadow Lake, providing increased and safe pedestrian access to community services. In Regina, the Saskatchewan Science Centre will be renovated to make it more accessible. Projects in Moose Jaw, Wilkie and Biggar will upgrade the power supply to municipal buildings using solar panels.
Providing communities with reliable and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $21.2 million in these 55 projects. For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met. The Government of Saskatchewan is also contributing over $16.4 million toward these projects. Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are $12.5 million.
"Through collaboration with our provincial and municipal partners, we are funding important infrastructure projects throughout Saskatchewan," said Carr. "With the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, we are also responding to the impacts of the pandemic through flexible and accelerated investments in key infrastructure upgrades as quickly as possible. The funding announced today will help communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities."
"From Buffalo Narrows to Estevan, and dozens of communities in-between the Government of Saskatchewan's $16.4-million investment in these 55 local infrastructure projects will not only help protect local economies, which are continuing to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also help create safe, healthy and prosperous communities across the province," McMorris said.
"We are very pleased that our Logan Green Pathway improvement project has been accepted as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program," City of Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley said. "Having the participation of both the federal and provincial governments in funding this important multi-use pathway project will enable it to get underway this spring. Once complete it is expected to greatly increase use and improve access to our city's largest and best recreational area."
"The Saskatchewan Science Centre is tremendously grateful for the funding commitments from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada for our renovation project," Saskatchewan Science Centre CEO Sandy Baumgartner said. "This project will be transformational for the Science Centre. A renewed space and exhibits will be critical to a successful future for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, allowing us to continue to inspire the province's youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math."
Quick facts:
- To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.Â
- Through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects.
- The COVID-19 Resilience Stream allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent in projects that support provinces, and up to 100 per cent in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.
- Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12Â years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.Â
- In Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada has invested more than $812 million in over 460 infrastructure projects since 2015 under the Investing in Canada Plan.
Associated links:
- Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure PlanÂ
- Investing in Canada Plan Project MapÂ
- Federal infrastructure investments in SaskatchewanÂ
