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News Release October 3, 2003 THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FUNDS ANOTHER PHASE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK OTTAWA, Ontario - Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, together with David Collenette, Minister of Transport, Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, and Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute $50 million towards another phase of improvements to the Trans Canada Highway in Banff National Park. This investment will be made under the "national priority project" component of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. "The Trans Canada Highway is Canada's main east-west highway and the most important commercial trade corridor between Vancouver, Calgary and points east, said Minister Rock. This investment demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to make the movement of people and goods in the area more efficient, and to the country's economic growth." "Parks Canada is recognized internationally as an environmental leader," said Minister Copps. "Thanks to this funding, Parks Canada can move forward with the next phase of upgrades to the Highway and deliver significant improvements in human and wildlife safety." "The traffic increase on the Trans Canada Highway in Banff National Park has made the highway more treacherous for motorists and the wildlife living in the Bow Valley," said Minister Collenette. "I am pleased that the Government of Canada's investment will significantly improve road safety for the many motorists using the Trans Canada Highway." "By making our contribution through the new "national priority project" component of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, we recognize the importance of this project for the whole country without reducing Alberta's access to the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund," said Minister McLellan. The $50 million investment announced today will be administered by Parks Canada. An environmental assessment, engineering studies and public consultation will help better define the work to be undertaken. The environmental assessment must be completed before the project can be officially approved. The $2-billion Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), announced by Minister Rock on July 22, 2003, provides $200 million for national priority projects - projects of such importance that it is appropriate for the Government of Canada to be a funding partner. As funding for this project will be made available under the "national priority project" component of the CSIF, Alberta remains eligible for its full share of funding under the overall Fund. In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. Its Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, thus bringing the Government of Canada's contribution to infrastructure to $12 billion since 1993. Today's announcement brings the Government of Canada's investment in Alberta's infrastructure since 1994 to over $750 million. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget and is built into the existing fiscal framework. Contacts: Mylène Dupéré Amy Butcher Naline Rampersad Infrastructure Canada BACKGROUNDERSAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY IN BANFF NATIONAL PARKThe project The investment announced today will target upgrades to the TCH between the Icefields Parkway Interchange and east of Lake Louise. Priority will be given to maximizing motorist safety, to bringing about environmental improvements and to resolving wildlife and traffic conflicts. The exact improvements to be made and the distances of the TCH to be twinned will be based on a complete environmental assessment, engineering design study, and consultation with community residents, stakeholders and the general public. This project will include detailed planning, soil investigation, public consultation, environmental assessment, design and construction activities. It could involve as many as three major bridges, one railway overpass and one highway interchange, along with appropriate environmental impact mitigation measures. The Trans-Canada HighwayThe Trans Canada Highway (TCH) is Canada's main east-west highway and the most important commercial trade corridor between Western Canada and points east. It is the primary access route for visitors to Canada's national parks in the Rocky Mountains. These national parks are world heritage sites and are among Canada's foremost tourism attractions. The TCH passes through Banff National Park for a distance of over 80 kilometres. As Canada's most highly visited national park, Banff attracts over five million people each year - almost all of whom arrive by private vehicle or motor coach. In previous years, sections of the TCH in Banff National Park have been upgraded in phases as traffic volumes increased. Approximately 50 kilometres of the highway have already been upgraded. Upgrades have included twinning and cutting-edge environmental improvements, such as wildlife exclusion fencing and wildlife overpasses and underpasses. These measures have resulted in significant improvements to transportation and wildlife safety - reducing wildlife and traffic conflicts by as much as 95 per cent in some cases. The first phase of the TCH twinning project was completed in 1985 and the most recent phase in 1997. Since 1997, traffic volumes have increased by an average of over three per cent annually. This has resulted in greater risks to motorist and wildlife safety in the Bow Valley. A National Priority Project Several key projects of strategic national importance, such as the twinning of the TCH in Banff National Park announced today, will be identified as priorities for funding under the new parameters of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) announced on July 22, 2003. A maximum of ten per cent, or $200 million, of Budget 2003 CSIF funding will be set aside for these national projects - projects of such importance that it is appropriate for the Government of Canada to be a funding partner. They include trans-provincial, trans-territorial projects or more localized but critical projects where federal funding is appropriate. Funding for projects selected as "national priority projects" will not infringe on the province's access to the overall Fund. Banff National ParkThe Banff National Park dates back to 1885. It was Canada's first national park and the world's third. Now spanning 6,641 square kilometres of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, it has become one of the world's premier destination spots. The Park, which includes over 1,600 kilometres of trails, is home to a number of outstanding geological and ecological features, including hot springs, and the Castleguard Caves, located in the remote northwest corner of the park, which are Canada's longest cave system. The Park is also home to Alberta's southernmost herd of the endangered woodland caribou and three eco-regions, which are characterized by different plant and animal regimes, as well as different climates and elevations. Wildlife found in the Park includes elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, wolves and a host of other large and small mammals. |
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