No. H018/03
For release March 12, 2003

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND
YUKON TERRITORY CONTRIBUTE $5.8 MILLION
TO HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN YUKON

OTTAWA - MP for Yukon Larry Bagnell, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, and Yukon Infrastructure Minister Glenn Hart today announced joint funding of $5.8 million over two years for the rehabilitation of the Teslin River Bridge, located at Johnson’s Crossing.

The project, which falls under the Canada/Yukon Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP), involves a seismic retrofit and structural strengthening of the Teslin River Bridge to enable it to better withstand the effects of growing traffic and earthquakes.

“The Teslin River Bridge, as part of the only direct land link between British Columbia and Alaska, is an extremely important link for the National Highway System in Yukon,” said Mr. Bagnell. “This kind of support is crucial to economic development and public safety.”

Under the Canada/Yukon SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Yukon Territory will provide joint funding of $8.8 million until March 2006 for highway improvement projects in the territory. This agreement, signed April 8, 2002, is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001.

“The federal contribution of $2.9 million from the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program will help improve and enhance the safety of Yukon’s highway system,” said Mr. Collenette. “It will be beneficial for residents of the area, as well as for visitors and for trade.”

“The remedial work done on the Teslin River Bridge will increase its stability in the event of an earthquake,” said Mr. Hart. “ It will also accommodate increased traffic loads and provide for future widening of the bridge deck.”

Federal funding for this project is built into the existing financial framework.

- 30 -

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at  apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

In the February 2000 Budget, the Government of Canada committed to improve the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600 million over five years in highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001, Transport Minister David Collenette announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component.

Under the program, $500 million, including $15 million for administrative costs, will be available to address the needs of Canada’s highways until March 2006. The program formally began in fiscal year 2002-2003. The Government of Canada will work with the provinces and territories to identify those parts of the national highway system that - because of growing traffic and increasing trade - need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians.

An allocation formula has been developed to distribute the $485 million available to the provinces and territories under SHIP. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share based on population and a 50-50 cost-sharing ratio. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for the Yukon Territory is $4.4 million. Under the previous joint highway funding agreement from 1993-1998, Transport Canada contributed $10 million to the Yukon Territory. This brings the total funding from Transport Canada since 1993 to $14.4 million.

An environmental assessment that meets the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be undertaken before the project begins. Funding for the project is conditional on the results of this assessment.

SHIP will also provide $100 million nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings and better transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety.

March 2003