Upgrading Rural Infrastructure
As the lazy days of summer wind down, you may notice some changes occurring in your community.
Communities across Provencher are benefitting from an unprecedented infrastructure investment by the federal government, with a focus on economic and social renewal.
These projects range from improvements at hockey and curling rinks, to vital improvements to the drinking water in rural communities that so desperately need it. These improvements are a welcome addition to communities that have struggled with failing infrastructure. Just as importantly, the construction and renovation has provided jobs for Canadians at a time when the economy needed a boost the most.
I have had the pleasure of attending the opening ceremonies of projects, some of which received federal approval only months ago. I look forward to seeing more of these worthy projects come to fruition in the coming months. This investment in rural communities will have lasting effects for years to come.
The Building Canada Fund will provide improvements to water and wastewater facilities in towns like New Bothwell, Lorette, Kleefeld, Ile Des Chenes and Steinbach.
Infrastructure Stimulus funding means there will be a new bridge over the Red River at Letellier, a new bridge over Lenchuk Creek in the RM of Reynolds, and a new lagoon at White Lake.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program means that residents in Pine Falls, Pinawa, Dominion City, St. Malo and many other communities will see improvements to recreational complexes in their areas.
Investment through the Community Adjustment Fund will help lesson the blow of the economic downturn in communities such as St. Georges, Ste. Agathe, Vita and St. Joseph.
The projects funded across south-eastern Manitoba are too numerous to list them all, and as with all government programs, the number of applications received far outweighed the amount that could be funded. However, our government made a concerted effort to spread the projects around to as many communities as we possibly could. The projects ranged in value from a few thousand dollars to several million.
Governments around the world made the decision to stimulate their economies. The Government of Canada’s decision to do the same will result in benefits that will last a lifetime in rural Manitoba. I look forward to seeing as many of these new projects as I can, and to joining in the celebration that renewal brings.
