MP Gallant Pleased to Work with Municipalities who support “Building Canada”

August 15, 2008

Pembroke, Ontario - Cheryl Gallant, MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is looking forward to working with all Municipalities who have identified infrastructure improvements as a priority in their communities.

“Substantial infrastructure funding was long overdue in Eastern Ontario. I am proud to be a member of a Federal Government that responded to the need by taking action in making the largest, single, federal investment in infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sewers, since World War Two,” confirmed Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“The decision by the province to finally sign an infrastructure agreement with the federal government was influenced by Renfrew County Councils who passed motions that urged the province to quit playing politics with government programs and sign an agreement,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP. “Now that the agreement has been signed, I encourage those municipalities to come forward to me with their funding requests. Only by working together on behalf of all ratepayers, will we achieve positive results for our neighbourhoods.”

“Congratulations to the communities along Highway 17 in north-western Ontario in having safety improvements identified as a priority in the Building Canada announcement. However, I am disappointed that the liberal party in Toronto did not join the federal government in making a similar announcement for Highway 17 in Eastern Ontario at this time. Work could start as early as next year to twin Highway 17 west of Arnprior all the way to Renfrew. Without provincial co-operation, the earliest local residents could expect to see work commence on a new four-lane highway to Pembroke is 2013. As the Member of Parliament for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, improvements to Highway 17 remains a top priority as well as an issue of safety,” said MP Gallant.

“I am pleased that as a result of my efforts to fill the broadband gap in Eastern Ontario, high-speed internet has been identified as a priority through Building Canada. I personally approached the Finance Minister about the importance of this issue. It is reassuring for local voters to know that as a Member of the government, my voice is heard. The value I have as a veteran Government MP is the experience I bring to every issue,” observed Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“A broadband gap analysis funded by the federal government has identified Renfrew County as having the largest gap in service in Eastern Ontario. In the age of e-health and e-business, individuals and businesses are at a real disadvantage by not having access to high speed, affordable internet. Local residents know that I having been working continuously to bridge the broadband gap,” concluded MP Cheryl Gallant.