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Speech
From Throne
Throne Speech 2001
Strong Communities
January 30, 2001
It is in our communities and neighbourhoods that
the abstract idea of "quality of life" takes on a real meaning –
where good transportation and information networks, entrepreneurship, public
spirit and shared creativity come together to make Canadian communities more
prosperous and more attractive places to live, work and raise families.
In the new knowledge economy, new technologies,
such as fibre optic cable, satellites and wireless, are becoming as essential to
our quality of life as the infrastructure of community centres, water treatment
facilities, roads and bridges that serve and connect all Canadians, from sea to
sea to sea.
Building strong, prosperous communities is not
merely a local concern it is our common Canadian cause and a national purpose.
No one government has the wisdom, the creativity or the resources to go it alone.
We are in this together. We are partners.
Since taking office, our government has been a
good partner, making bold investments in urban and rural infrastructure and in
community development that foster local solutions to local challenges, that
empower Canadians in all communities with the chance to participate fully in the
knowledge economy and to ensure that no one is left behind.
A Record of Achievement
In collaboration with the provincial, territorial
and local governments and the private sector, the Government is currently
implementing a second National Infrastructure Program which will see a federal
contribution of $2.6 billion leverage a total investment of
$6 billion. One of the priorities of this program is green infrastructure.
Through the Canada Infrastructure Works Program,
$8.3 billion has been invested across Canada. Creating tens-of- thousands of
jobs in hundreds of communities.
We committed $125 million to establish the Green
Municipal Investment and Enabling Funds to enhance local efforts on climate
protection, air, water and soil quality.
Through SchoolNet and the Community Access
Program, we have worked with local communities to bring public Internet access
within reach of all Canadians.
We have committed a total of $753 million over
three years to alleviate and prevent homelessness.
We have also invested $268 million over 5 years
to support the renovation and repair of low-income housing, including rental and
rooming house accommodation for people at risk.
We launched the Atlantic Investment Partnership,
a $700-million, five-year federal initiative, with a balanced mix of strategic
investments and initiatives designed to build new partnerships that will
strengthen the capacity of all Atlantic Canadians to innovate and compete in the
new economy.
2001 SFT Commitments
We will build on these cooperative achievements
and work to build innovative new partnerships.
We will:
- Work with partners from across Canada to launch
a dialogue on the opportunities and challenges facing urban centres.
- Cooperate with provincial and municipal
partners to help improve public transit infrastructure.
- Stimulate the creation of more affordable
rental housing.
- Strive to help build local solutions to local
challenges.
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