This summer, year two of Canada’s Economic Action Plan will be implemented in communities across Canada and in our own riding. Our Conservative government launched the two-year plan in Budget 2009 that has been saving and creating jobs in Canada during the global economic recession (300,000 jobs created so far). The stimulus spending program has been carried out region by region, sector by sector and was the result of the largest-ever pre-budget consultation in our country’s history.
In our riding, we have already seen remarkable developments. The restoration of the Bailey Theatre and major investments in the Canada Badlands may be the most high-profile. We have received assistance from the Economic Action Plan funding envelopes including: the Building Canada Fund (Communities Component); the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund; Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RinC); Marquee Tourism Events; Cultural Spaces; the Community Adjustment Fund throughout our constituency. I should add to this list the return of the gas taxes revenues to the communities where they were raised. Our Conservative government commenced that initiative shortly after forming government.
Much of the federal stimulus spending has been used by communities for infrastructure projects, including maintenance and upgrades to highways and bridges. Our federal government is working closely with our Alberta provincial government which is responsible for maintaining our local highways and roads.
As your Member of Parliament, I log tens of thousands of kilometers a year travelling to and from the four corners of our riding. Like you, I have been ensnarled in some of the traffic line-ups due to construction crews that have become more commonplace since the snow melted. Residents frequenting Highway 9 and 21 are the latest lucky recipients of pavement repair. Other projects include Highways 12, 13, 590, 836, and 24-22X.
I must confess that I appreciate the results of highway re-surfacing and there are a number of truckers out there who would agree with me. Whether you’re using the highways to go to work, school, or visit family and friends it helps, while you’re in-line waiting for the flag to go ahead, to remember that one of the first great tasks Canadians asked of the Government of Canada was to build a railroad to link our country together and facilitate trade and the timely movement of people, goods and services over fantastic geographic distances to our border and ports for export.
Today, our roads and highways remain as important as ever. In our region of our vast nation, we rely on long stretches of highways and roads that link us to our loved-ones and our livelihoods.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this or previous columns you may write me at 4945-50th Street, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, toll-free 1-800-665-4358, fax 780-608-4603 or e-mail sorenk1@parl.gc.ca