Notes for an address by

The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Funding announcement

Corresponding Document: News Release (2010-01-19)

Check against delivery

Thank you, Mr. Huntington.

Good morning everyone.

It is great to be here today on behalf of the Government of Canada and my department, Western Economic Diversification Canada.

To begin, I would also like to acknowledge today’s other participant:  Mr. Sam Katz (Mayor of Winnipeg)
 
It is a pleasure to be back in Winnipeg today. I was last here in November when I had the honour of speaking at a session with the Women’s Enterprise Centre, followed by an announcement that afternoon of $11.6 million to the Composites Innovation Centre. Today, I am pleased to continue our Government’s commitment to support all Manitobans.

To help ensure that Canada emerges from the current global recession stronger than ever, the Government of Canada has been taking concrete, effective and targeted steps to stimulate and sustain our economy through Canada’s Economic Action Plan.  As of December 1, 2009, just 10 months into this fiscal year, 97 per cent of the Plan has been committed.

Today, our absolute priority remains the same: to continue doing everything we can to deliver timely, targeted and affordable support to our Canadian workers, families and businesses who need it most.

I am pleased to announce, that here in Manitoba, the Government of Canada is taking another step towards economic recovery by announcing an investment of $1,784,066 in four projects. This funding is provided through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The projects funded include the arena in Churchill, seven arenas in Winnipeg, 17 Winnipeg playgrounds and the Pan Am Pool.

Over a two-year period, this new infrastructure program is investing $500 million to improve recreational infrastructure in communities across the country.  It is a short-term response that will help maintain Canada’s economic strength by creating jobs right now, when they’re needed most.

And, as of December 1, 2009, approximately $170 million in recreational infrastructure funding has been committed to projects across the country. RInC is providing more than a short-term economic stimulus … it is also a long-term investment in the quality of life for Canadians. 

Recreational facilities – such as local hockey rinks, swimming pools, and sports fields – are the heart of Canadian communities… providing places where families, friends and neighbors can gather together to get fit and have fun.

Working with other levels of government, we have dramatically accelerated the planning, development and execution of infrastructure projects, like these, from coast to coast to coast. Many of our country’s recreational facilities were built to celebrate Canada’s Centennial in 1967.  It was a time of great national pride and enormous optimism for the future, so it seems fitting that we should re-invest in those facilities today.

However, RInC is just one of a broad range of initiatives announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Government of Canada is creating and protecting jobs, building infrastructure, easing the tax burden on families, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity. And while we are already showing signs of recovery, the economy remains Canadians' top priority, as well as the Government of Canada’s.

That’s why we are going to complete the roll-out of our Economic Action Plan, return the federal budget to balance once the economy has recovered, and build the economy of the future. Together we are all working to build a stronger West for a stronger Canada.

Thank you.