Minister Lebel discusses the new bridge for the St. Lawrence and the new long-term infrastructure program at the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

MONTRÉAL, April 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, delivered an update on the new bridge for the St. Lawrence project and outlined the new long-term infrastructure program announced in Economic Action Plan 2013—the new Building Canada plan.

"The new bridge for the St. Lawrence is a top priority for our government and I am moving this project forward quickly, efficiently and responsibly," said Minister Lebel. "Since committing to build a new bridge for the St. Lawrence in October 2011, our government has been hard at work consulting with municipal and provincial officials so we can deliver this important infrastructure project within a very tight timeframe."

"New infrastructure projects are key enablers for economic growth and job creation," added Minister Lebel. "Our government is investing $70 billion in federal funding over 10 years for infrastructure through the new Building Canada plan that will create jobs and boost economic growth, thus improving the quality of life of Canadians."

More information on the progress of the new bridge for the St. Lawrence and the new Building Canada plan are included in the attached backgrounders.

For more information about the new bridge for the St. Lawrence, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/nbfsl.

BACKGROUNDER: NEW BRIDGE FOR THE ST. LAWRENCE

October 5, 2011: Announcement of the construction of a new bridge for the St. Lawrence in Montreal to replace the Champlain Bridge. It will be built through a public-private partnership and there will be tolls.

October 31, 2011: Consultations by Minister Lebel with economic and business leaders from the Montreal region.

November 14, 2011: Consultations by Minister Lebel with the mayors of Montreal, Longueuil and Brossard.

January 22, 2012: Launch of the federal environmental assessment.

April 23, 2012: Following a request for proposals, award of the contract for the environmental assessment (Dessau|Cima+ consortium).

July 12, 2012: Announcement of the replacement of three overpasses on Highway 15 and the construction of a temporary causeway linking île des Soeurs to Montreal.

July 31, 2012: Following a request for proposals, award of the contract to develop the business case for the project (consortium led by PricewaterhouseCoopers).

September 13, 2012: Inaugural meeting of the stakeholder advisory committee composed of the Quebec Ministry of Transportation, the Agence métropolitaine de transport and the cities of Montreal, Longueuil, and Brossard.

September 19, 2012: Following a request for proposals, award of a contract for the design and environmental studies of a temporary causeway to replace the île des Soeurs Bridge (Genivar).

November 16, 2012: Publishing of the first part of the environmental assessment report.

December 2-10, 2012: Public open houses on the results of the environmental assessment in Brossard, Verdun and île des Soeurs.

February 18, 2013: Consultations by Minister Lebel with engineering, business and design experts to discuss ways of ensuring the architectural quality of the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.

March 7, 2013: Ministers Lebel and Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec Minister of Transport, meet to discuss the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.

April 2, 2013: Publishing of the second part of the environmental assessment report.

April 10, 2013: Consultations by Minister Lebel with Montreal region mayors to discuss the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.

April 14-22, 2013: Second series of public open houses on the results of the environmental assessment in Brossard, île des Soeurs and Montreal's Le Sud-Ouest borough.

April 17, 2013: Request for proposals for laboratory services and geotechnical studies.

BACKGROUNDER: NEW BUILDING CANADA PLAN 2013

Investments in Canada's public infrastructure create jobs, economic growth and provide a high quality of life for families in every city and community across the country.

Since 2006, our government has made unprecedented investments in over 43,000 projects to build roads, bridges, commuter rail and other important public infrastructure.

As a result of our investments, we have brought the average age of Canada's core public infrastructure down from a peak of 17 years in 2001 to an estimated 14.4 years in 2011. It is now lower than the historical average over the last 50 years.

Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on our investments and announces a new Building Canada plan - the largest investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.

The new Building Canada plan has three main components:

• Community Improvement Fund - $32.2 billion consisting of an indexed Gas Tax Fund and the increased GST Rebate for Municipalities to build roads, public transit, recreational facilities and other community infrastructure across Canada that will improve the quality of life of Canadian families.
• New Building Canada Fund - $14 billion to support infrastructure projects of national, regional and local significance.
• Renewed P3 Canada Fund - $1.25 billion to continue finding innovative ways to build infrastructure projects faster and provide better value for Canadian taxpayers through public-private partnerships.

In addition, $6 billion in federal support will be provided to provinces, territories and municipalities under current infrastructure programs in 2014-15 and beyond.

Over the next 10 years, the government will also make significant investments in First Nations infrastructure and in federal assets.

• Approximately $7 billion over 10 years in First Nations infrastructure such as roads, bridges, energy systems and other First Nations infrastructure priorities.
• Over $10 billion in investments in federal infrastructure assets, including bridges, fishing harbours, ports, military bases and departmental accommodations across the country.

Overall, the new Building Canada plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments will result in $70 billion in federal infrastructure funding over 10 years, the largest federal investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.

SOURCE: Government of Canada

For further information:

Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of
Canada for the Regions of Quebec,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

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