Canada's New Government and Province of British Columbia Identify Highway 97 Improvements for Priority Funding

September 21, 2007

Summerland - The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Rick Thorpe, British Columbia Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform, on behalf of the Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation, today announced their respective governments have identified improvements to Highway 97 in the Okanagan Valley as a priority under Building Canada, the Government of Canada's new long-term infrastructure plan.

"Canada's New Government is committed to improving transportation safety. This un-twinned section of highway has long been identified as a high collision area, as shown by last week's logging truck mishap. This investment will significantly improve the safety of Highway 97," said Minister Day. "As part of Building Canada, we are investing in infrastructure priorities to increase community safety, help our growing economy, and protect our environment."

"As the MLA for Okanagan Westside, I have been hearing about and working for years on the need to four lane this part of Highway 97," said Rick Thorpe. "This partnership with the federal government shows what can be accomplished by working together. I'd like to personally thank Stockwell Day and his government's commitment to the Okanagan and British Columbia."

This initiative involves upgrading a 7 kilometre section of Highway 97 between Bentley Road and Okanagan Lake Park to four lanes. The upgrade is expected to increase traffic safety and reduce congestion. This $54 million upgrade should be completed and ready for motorists in 2009. Federal financial support is conditional on the initiative meeting all applicable federal eligibility requirements under Building Canada and successful negotiations with the province of British Columbia of necessary agreements.

Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country. Over the last several months, the Government of Canada has met with provinces, territories and the municipal sector to discuss Building Canada with a view to signing agreements and beginning to fund initiatives under the plan.