A new Duff Roblin Park Reserve will soon be established, thanks to $3.2 million in funding, which includes a $2.1 million contribution from the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). The balance will be provided by the Province of Manitoba.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Doer, Premier of Manitoba; the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification; the Honourable Duff Roblin, former Premier of Manitoba; and Bill Norrie, Chair of the Floodway Advisory Board.

“At our newest park reserve Manitobans will be able to take advantage of great recreational opportunities including biking, walking and tobogganing while at the same time having a bird’s eye view of the impressive landscape of the expanded Floodway,” said Premier Doer. “We feel we have created a destination that all Manitobans can be proud of and will enjoy.”

“Duff Roblin reminds us of what it means to be a visionary,” said Minister Toews. “A man of action, Duff saw what could be and inspired a province. The Government of Canada is proud to recognize his achievements with the new Duff Roblin Park Reserve.”

The existing Duff Roblin Park Reserve, located near Winnipeg’s north perimeter, commemorates two important Manitoba milestones: the construction of a flood control system for the City of Winnipeg, and the establishment of a provincial system of parks. Both were created with the foresight of the Honourable Duff Roblin, one of Manitoba’s well-respected politicians, who served as premier from 1958 to 1967.

The new Duff Roblin Park Reserve will be relocated to the Floodway Inlet Control Structure in St. Norbert as part of the commitment to support recreational and economic opportunities along an expanded floodway. The development of the new park will focus on infrastructure components such as picnic areas and shelters, walking and cycling trails, washrooms, drinking water, fishing facilities, bike racks, a toboggan run, parking lot, and landscape improvements. Approximately 25,000 Manitoba residents and tourists are expected to visit the expanded park at its new location.

The initial Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) agreement, announced in December 2004, invested a total of $120 million in communities across Manitoba. This year, an additional $25 million is being provided to MRIF through matching funds from the governments of Canada, Manitoba and local contributions as part of the commitment to help small communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional funding will bring the total federal and provincial investment and matching local contribution in MRIF projects to $145 million.

Of the funds, 80 per cent are earmarked for communities with a population under 250,000, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated Northern Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining 20 per cent of funds are awarded to communities with populations over 250,000.

More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects are available at: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ and http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/.

For additional information, contact:

Jana Lerner,
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
Secretariat Website: http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/

Lee Gregg,
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0701

John Thorpe,
Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-4997
MB Government Website: http://www.gov.mb.ca/