No. H102/03
For release September 15, 2003

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND
PROVINCE OF ALBERTA FUND $12.5 MILLION FOR A
TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

BROOKS — Senator Joyce Fairbairn, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with Alberta Transportation Minister Ed Stelmach, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta will contribute joint funding of $12.5 million for a highway improvement project near Brooks. The project involves a grade-separated interchange on the Trans-Canada Highway at Cassils Road. The funding falls under the Canada/Alberta Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP).

“The Trans-Canada Highway is an essential corridor for commercial and passenger traffic in this province,” said Ms. Fairbairn. “Improvements to this highway will enhance public safety for the benefit of Alberta residents and visitors.”

“I am pleased that federal funds from the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program are being used to upgrade key highway links in Alberta,” said Mr. Collenette. “These improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway will enhance safety for motorists and its capacity to move goods quickly and efficiently.”

“Funding from SHIP allows Alberta Transportation to undertake this important project sooner than anticipated,” said Mr. Stelmach. “The new interchange will reduce collisions at this intersection and accommodate increased traffic volumes brought on by rapid growth in Brooks and area.”

The project will replace an existing at-grade intersection with a grade-separated, diamond interchange and will include realignment of both Cassils Road and an existing service road. The project area averages 7,500 vehicles per day, 25 per cent of which are trucks. This percentage is high compared to the provincial average of 14.5 per cent, indicating this highway’s significance in the transport of goods and services across Alberta.

Under the SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta are providing joint funding of $92.4 million until March 2006 for highway improvement projects in the province. The Canada/Alberta SHIP agreement, signed August 23, 2001, is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001.

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

A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is attached.

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BACKGROUNDER

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 SHIP, $500 million, including $15 million in administrative costs, is 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 is working 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 for road construction 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 Province of Alberta is $46.2 million. Under previous joint highway funding agreements since 1987, Transport Canada contributed $41 million to Alberta. This brings the total funding from Transport Canada to $87.2 million.

An environmental assessment that meets the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be undertaken before this 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.

SHIP continues the Government of Canada’s long tradition of highway funding that started more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada will have invested more than $1.8 billion between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The federal government also invests in transportation-related infrastructure through other programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund. On May 9, 2003, the Prime Minister announced $150 million in federal funds to contribute to the construction of ring roads around Calgary and Edmonton.

For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm.

For more information on the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.infrastructurecanada.gc.ca.

September 2003