NEWS FROM THE FIELD
NEWS FROM THE FIELD
Think BIG’s newest column shares news from around the world that SHCA members need to know about
Investing in infrastructure
in Saskatchewan
Modern and efficient roadways are crucial
to encouraging and supporting economic
activity, facilitating trade and creating good
paying, middle class jobs. The governments
of Canada and Saskatchewan are invest-ing
in well-planned infrastructure that will
make it easier to move people and products
across the country, while supporting sus-tained
economic growth and productivity
for years to come.
Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness and Highways
and Infrastructure Minister David Marit an-nounced
funding for five highway rehabili-tation
projects in Saskatchewan.
“As a trading nation, Canada needs to en-sure
that people and products can move
quickly and safely – from home to work, and
from business to business,” said Goodale.
“These Government of Canada investments
in key highways in Saskatchewan will cre-ate
jobs today while supporting a reli-able
transportation system and economic
growth tomorrow.”
“Investing in infrastructure is a part of
our plan to keep the Saskatchewan econo-my
strong,” said Marit. “We are pleased to
partner with the Government of Canada on
projects that will help Saskatchewan meet
the challenges of a growing province, help
build the economy and, most importantly,
help people get home safely.”
The federal government is providing up
to 50 per cent of funding for these proj-ects
– just over $31.6 million – and the
Government of Saskatchewan is respon-sible
for all remaining costs. The projects
have a combined total estimated cost of
more than $64.2 million.
The five major highways included in
these projects are part of the National
Highway System. It forms the backbone of
the provincial transportation network and
supports national, provincial and region-al
economic activity, and helps businesses
access key options for ocean, air, rail and
ground transportation. They connect the
four western Canadian provinces, tying to-gether
major population centres and lead to
strategic border crossings within Canada.
Resurfacing more than 220 kilometres
of this network will help reduce long-term
costs and will extend the life of these roads
by more than 25 years. These improved
road surface conditions will reduce trav-el
times and the wear and tear on vehicles.
In addition, several safety improvements
made as part of these projects will reduce
the risk of collisions at key highway inter-sections,
making for a better, safer drive for
all travellers.
Saskatchewan households
would be wealthier if
provincial infrastructure
spending matched the
national average
If Saskatchewan’s infrastructure invest-ments
had been on par with the national av-erage
over the past 25 years, the province’s
GDP would have been roughly 1.6 per cent
higher in 2015, according to a new report
by The Conference Board of Canada. The
higher GDP would translate into roughly
$2,500 more income for each Saskatchewan
household.
“While Saskatchewan is blessed with nat-ural
resources that have made the province
more attractive to private investment, public
infrastructure investment has not kept pace,”
ART BABYCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Ralph Goodale, Canada’s Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness and Highways
saskheavy.ca | Quarter 2 2017 | Think BIG 9
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