Our historic and ambitious infrastructure plan for canadians
When your federal government was elected in 2015, one of our key promises was to make up for Canada's infrastructure deficit, which was mainly due to a lack of investment by the previous federal government. That deficit certainly existed here at home in Newfoundland and Labrador.
We knew we had to think long-term and be visionary. We knew it was time to provide Canada with 21st-century, modern, resilient and green infrastructure.
That's why we've worked tirelessly to put together a landmark plan that will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public infrastructure from coast to coast to coast.
Our plan is ambitious and national but, in reality, it is local. It aims to invest in Canada, but above all, our plan invests in every community and every Canadian. And it supports small businesses based right here in our riding that employ local people.
Our plan has a concrete impact on the everyday lives of each and every one of us. Our plan has helped build roads, allowing Canadians to travel between work and home more quickly and safely, like the upgrades in Mount Moriah. We have also invested in the modernization of community and sport centres, like the Bruce II complex in Channel-Port aux Basques, enabling our children and seniors to have fun, learn and stay healthy. And we have helped build and repair numerous water and wastewater systems to provide folks with reliable access to clean drinking water in numerous locations all the way from Englee to Rose Blanche.
In three years, more than 4,700 projects have been approved across Canada, four times more than the previous government for the same period.
And right here in the Long Range Mountains, 97 projects have been approved so far, with nearly $33,000,000 of federal funds supporting these projects.
Currently, Canada is one of the strongest countries in economic growth in the G7. Our ambitious infrastructure plan is one of the drivers behind this economic and social success.
In terms of developing our plan, we strongly believe that municipalities and provinces are best placed to decide on their own priorities. That's why, to date, we have signed bilateral agreements with each province and territory. Our plan ensures that the priorities of each province are taken into account in our decisions. We have streamlined the review and approval process in partnership with the provinces and municipalities to ensure that projects are initiated on time from one construction season to the next.
I will continue to strive for our communities because we all know that modern infrastructure can attract talent and investment anywhere and provide good jobs. Together, let's seize the opportunity, fulfil our ambitions and continue to build modern, resilient and green 21st-century infrastructure all throughout the Long Range Mountains.
Gudie Hutchings is the member of Parliament for the Long Range Mountains
