November 20, 2009
Canada-British Columbia Partnership Creates Jobs, Stimulates Economy

SALMON ARM– Residents in the Falkland area will benefit from federal and provincial infrastructure funding to widen a section of Highway 97 to improve road safety, announced today by Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes and Shuswap MLA George Abbott. This project is just one example of both governments’ commitment to stimulating the British Columbia economy through the creation of jobs in our communities.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is getting shovels in the ground and flowing money faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs for British Columbians,” says Mayes. “Working together with all levels of government, we can build the infrastructure that will help the economy to thrive now and in the future.”

“This project is going to put more people back to work,” says Abbott. “Not only does this partnership create employment for our region, it also improves road safety, which is always a priority.”

This $5 million project includes the construction of northbound and southbound passing lanes six kilometers north of Falkland on Highway 97.

This project is one of 27 across the province that will break ground thanks to close to $180 million in joint federal and provincial funding. The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects starting in the 2009 construction season.

The projects are funded under the Province’s three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program, which will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C. To date, over $4.1 billion has already been announced for projects across British Columbia, which will create an estimated 26,000 jobs

For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. The website www.creatingjobs.gc.ca has more information on federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia.

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