INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Speaker, Confederation brought tremendous advances in the level of public infrastructure in this Province. It is fitting that in this year when we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Confederation this government is undertaking one of the most broadly based programs of construction on hospitals, schools and other public buildings, highways and other infrastructure than at any time since joining Canada.

• Close to $90 million will be spent on hospital construction in 1999-2000, for a total of over a quarter of a billion dollars invested or committed since 1996.

• $75 million will be added in 1999-2000 to the $50 million in last year’s budget, for a total of $125 million invested in schools, the largest school construction program ever.

• $118 million will fund the biggest highway construction program ever undertaken in the Province.

Local Government

Municipal Capital Works Program

A new Multi Year component is being added to the Municipal Capital Works program. The $120 million planned consists of $20 million for the regular program and $100 million over two years for a new Multi Year component which will be cost shared 50/50 by the provincial and municipal governments with the necessary fiscal capacity. The program is designed to provide for more comprehensive and lower cost infrastructure development for water and sewer, waste management facilities and roads by completing the work in a shorter time.

St.John’s Civic Centre

Today, we confirm our commitment to contribute $16 million towards the construction of the St.John’s Civic Centre. No cost overruns, as agreed with the City of St.John’s, will be permitted.

Contaminated Sites Clean Up

Investing in the Province’s infrastructure includes taking care of the environment. The budget provides $820,000 for the evaluation and clean up of six contaminated sites. Four are former military sites, two in Labrador at North West Point and Hopedale, and two on the Port au Port Peninsula at Jerry’s Nose and West Bay. The funding will also permit the safe disposal of PCB contaminated material stored at Baie Verte and Foxtrap.

Roads and Transportation

Last year government undertook its largest provincial highway construction program to that time, $108 million. This will be exceeded this year. Highway construction on the island and in Labrador will reach $118 million, the highest level ever in the history of the Province.

Trans Labrador Highway

We will complete phase I of the Trans Labrador Highway this year at a cost of $10 million, bringing the total cost over 3 years to $53 million.

Pending approval of an Environmental Impact Statement, we will start construction this summer on phase II. This road from Red Bay to Cartwright has a projected total cost over 4 years of $130 million, with $36 million to be spent this year.

Provincial Roads

On the island, $56 million will be spent on improving the Trans Canada Highway and regional trunk roads.

Government has allocated $16 million in 1999-00 to upgrade and rebuild other highways.

Ferry Service

Construction will commence this year on a new $3 million ferry terminal at Farewell, the mainland terminal for the Fogo/Change Islands Ferry Service, and is expected to be completed next year.

Cultural Infrastructure

Task Force on Cultural Infrastructure

In recognition of the importance of our cultural heritage, a Task Force on Cultural Infrastructure has been struck to advise on developing new facilities for the Provincial Museum and Archives and for the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Refurbishing Historic Sites

Government is also commencing a process of refurbishing provincial historic sites, starting with the Bonavista lighthouse.

Main Page Contents Previous Next