City of Greater Sudbury to Improve Local Road

For immediate release — April 21, 2006

Canada and Ontario invest in infrastructure renewal

SUDBURY — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the City of Greater Sudbury today announced funding under Intake Two of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) to reconstruct Kingsway Boulevard.

The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $3,326,754 in the project. The City of Greater Sudbury will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $9,980,263. The Government of Canada's contribution is contingent on the successful completion of an environmental assessment of the proposed project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

 The City of Greater Sudbury will reconstruct and realign Kingsway Boulevard.

"Kingsway Boulevard is a major arterial road for Greater Sudbury residents and all those who travel through Ontario's north," said Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health and Federal Minister responsible for COMRIF. "The Government of Canada is pleased to be working collaboratively on this infrastructure upgrade that will benefit the families and individuals in this community."

"We recognize that reconstructing Kingsway Boulevard is a priority for the people of Greater Sudbury," said Rick Bartolucci, Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP for Sudbury. "The McGuinty government is standing by its commitment to invest in Ontario's prosperity, by providing better opportunities for Northern Ontario."

"The widening and realignment of the Kingsway is a long-standing infrastructure priority in our city. With over 45,000 vehicles travelling the Kingsway on a daily basis, these improvements will alleviate traffic congestion and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said David Courtemanche, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury. "I would like to thank the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario for, once again, investing in our transportation infrastructure and in our community."

Under COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to improve public infrastructure and quality of life for local residents in small urban and rural communities.

Intake Two builds on the successful first intake of the COMRIF initiative. As a result of funding provided by the governments of Canada and Ontario under the first and second intakes, infrastructure improvements are being made through 208 projects to make Ontario's communities stronger, healthier and safer.

COMRIF is a five-year, $900-million initiative that responds to local needs through infrastructure upgrades to provide clean, safe drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management processes, safer local roads and bridges, as well as other health and safety priorities. Green infrastructure is COMRIF's top priority, with 55 per cent of funding for projects involving water quality, sustainable communities, climate change and innovation.

COMRIF Intake Three will be launched in spring 2006 through a public announcement and direct contact with eligible municipalities. All Ontario municipalities of fewer than 250,000 people are eligible to apply to COMRIF to improve their local infrastructure.

For more information on the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.comrif.ca.

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Contacts:

David Courtemanche
Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury
705-671-2489

Dave McLeod
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
519-826-3198

Sam Boonstra
Industry Canada
416-952-0468

Chris Flavelle
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky
416-326-3072

Erik Waddell
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-957-0200

Project Reference Number:  13911