Speech From Throne 

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.

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.

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.