PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER HIGHLIGHTS THE SUCCESS OF CANADA’S ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today highlighted the success of Canada’s Economic Action plan in creating jobs and economic growth during the global recession. The Prime Minister was joined at the announcement by Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; and Tony Clement, Minister of Industry.

“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Our Government expects that nearly 90 per cent of infrastructure projects will be done by the ambitious deadline that we set out.”

Since July 2009, more than 420,000 net new jobs have been created across Canada and about 23,000 projects are underway or completed. The Government has provided $16 billion to modernize public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water, parks, transit and recreational facilities.
While the vast majority of infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by the ambitious two-year deadline (March 31, 2011) set out by the Government, a small percentage of projects have been delayed for a variety of reasons.

“Today, we have extended the deadline for completion of Economic Action Plan infrastructure projects by one full construction season, to October 31, 2011,” said the Prime Minister. “This will allow sufficient time for completion of the remaining projects.”

The one-time extension is expected to allow sufficient time for virtually all the remaining projects to be completed, at no additional cost to the Federal Government. In order to qualify for this extension, work must have begun on the project and it must have incurred eligible costs before March 31, 2011. The extension applies to projects funded under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Building Canada Fund Communities Component Top-Up, the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program or the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.