|
REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRÉTIEN TO ANNOUNCE A
JOINT CANADA-MANITOBA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
April 3, 2003
Winnipeg, Manitoba
I am very pleased to be with you today in Winnipeg with my colleague, the
Honourable Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister responsible
for Manitoba.
Over the years, the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba have
had a long and successful history of working together to improve the quality of
life, the safety of Manitobans and the economy of Manitoba and Canada.
Today, we are taking action on a priority issue for Manitobans. I am pleased
to announce an investment of $80 million from the Government of Canada, with an
equal investment from the Government of Manitoba, to expand the Red River
Floodway. The City of Winnipeg is also a partner and committed to increased
funding to protect and strengthen the capacity of this city to respond to the
threat of floods.
Together, we will improve infrastructure to better protect the residents of
Winnipeg and of the Red River Valley from flooding. This action will also help
the economy – because when we reduce the risk of flooding, we not only improve
the safety of residents, but we create an environment that encourages business
investment. The expansion of the Floodway itself will also bring in hundreds of
millions of dollars in economic benefits. I am also particularly pleased that
this project will help create thousands of jobs for Manitobans.
History has taught the people who live here to prepare for flooding. We
learned many lessons from the flooding of 1997. I want to say today that the
Government of Canada is committed to working with the people and Government of
Manitoba to support the completion of the expanded floodway over the next
several years.
I would also like to thank all of you who took time to organize, work, and
participate in the various consultations that have been held to date to look at
how we can prevent and reduce the dangers of flooding. We welcomed the
contribution of everyone, whether they are engineers or ordinary people living
along the Red River, who are most affected by flooding.
I would also like to acknowledge in a very special way the work undertaken
over the last few years by the International Joint Commission. In the wake of
the 1997 flood, the Commission's Task Force made 58 recommendations. The
Commission called for the highest flood protection that can be economically
justified. I am proud to say today that we are responding.
The Government of Canada takes its commitment to municipal and provincial
infrastructure seriously. That is why my government announced in the Speech from
the Throne that we are putting in place a ten year program for long-term
strategic infrastructure initiatives. Our latest Budget backs this commitment up
with an additional investment of $3 billion in infrastructure support. Combined
with commitments made in previous budgets, the Government of Canada's investment
in infrastructure since 2000 is now over $8 billion. Infrastructure projects
have one thing in common: they all help make Canada a better place to live, work
and raise a family.
As I have mentioned in the past, the key to success in improving
infrastructure is setting priorities. I would like to congratulate Premier Doer
whose leadership has been paramount in working with the federal government to
determine Manitoba's priority project. The expansion of the Red River Floodway
was chosen because we all agree that it will contribute immensely to the
economic vitality of Manitoba, but also because it will go a long way into
protecting the lives and the livelihood of everybody living on the shores of the
Red River. We look forward to continued cooperation with the Premier on
long-term strategic infrastructure priorities in the province.
We all remember the 1997 flood. At that time, the governments of Canada and
Manitoba provided $130 million for flood protection of residences and businesses
in the area. With today's investment, my government commits to do more to make
sure that we never come again so close to a tragedy.
I will now ask my colleague, the Honourable Allan Rock, Minister of Industry
and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure to begin negotiations with his
colleagues from the Province of Manitoba to conclude a contribution agreement so
that the expansion of the floodway can begin as soon as possible.
Today marks another great step in the history of the collaboration between
Manitoba and Canada as we work together to ensure that Winnipeg and the Red
River Valley continue to enjoy the best possible quality of life.
Thank you very much.
- 30 -
|
