REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRÉTIEN TO ANNOUNCE A JOINT CANADA-ALBERTA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

Calgary, Alberta
May 9, 2003

It is a pleasure for me to be with you today in the beautiful city of Calgary to make an announcement that will have a major impact on the quality of life for the residents of Calgary, Edmonton, and all of Alberta.

Today, I am proud to announce that the Government of Canada is investing $150 million towards the construction of the ring roads around the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. This infrastructure project, which we undertake in partnership with the Province of Alberta, will improve the flow of people and goods around, and between, these two important centres of Canada's west.

In addition to improving the flow of traffic, these roads will ease the traffic congestion of the downtown core. It will make the streets in the city centres safer and the air cleaner.

This project is an example of some of the infrastructure projects my government has undertaken in partnership with the provinces, territories and other partners. Over the last decade, the Government of Canada has invested over $12 billion in infrastructure projects throughout Canada.

Highways have been identified as infrastructure priorities by several partners, but our projects are not limited to roads. We have helped other communities throughout Canada improve water treatment and waste management, upgrade community and recreational centres and increase the number of affordable housing units. What these very different projects have in common is improving the quality of life of communities and municipalities across the country.

We do these projects in partnership – with all levels of government working together.

There was agreement here that building ring roads around Calgary and Edmonton was a priority. I heard about this priority from many quarters. From the Honourable Anne McLellan, who is from Edmonton and is here with me today, from Premier Ralph Klein, and Alberta Transportation Minister Ed Stelmach. Everyone talked about how important these roads were for the economies of Calgary and Edmonton. Everyone agreed that too many cars were stuck idling downtown every day contributing to levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

They also brought to my attention the expected growth for these two dynamic cities and the need to plan for increased traffic in the cities' core and suburban areas.

Minister McLellan, Premier Klein and Minister Stelmach have been good lobbyists. We concurred with their arguments and agreed on the ring road projects for Calgary and Edmonton.

I will now ask my colleagues, the Honourable Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, and the Honourable David Collenette, Minister of Transport, to work together with their Alberta counterparts to negotiate a contribution agreement within the next months so that the federal contribution can flow to the province as quickly as possible and make today's announcement a reality.

Today marks a great day for Calgary, Edmonton and Alberta. The project we are announcing will help the cities and their outlying areas grow to the measure of their dreams and that of their people. I am most happy that my government can help.

Thank you.

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