News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER SPEAKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GATEWAYS AND CORRIDORS

"LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN HALF A CENTURY"

May 4, 2007
VANCOUVER

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today outlined that the new investments in infrastructure in Budget 2007 are a significant element of restoring fiscal balance in Canada.

"We are embarking, in collaboration with the other levels of government, on the largest infrastructure development program in this country in over half a century," said the Prime Minister.

Canada's New Government will make a further investment of $410 million in the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, a mass infrastructure undertaking that will enhance Canada's access to Asian markets.
"At the dawn of the 21st century, no country in the world is better positioned than Canada to prosper in the emerging global economy, and the Gateway Initiative is obviously critical to realizing our potential," said the Prime Minister.

To date, Canada's New Government has devoted $33 billion to infrastructure spending, a historic investment in Canadian infrastructure.

"The long-overdue rehabilitation of our national economic infrastructure will go far in restoring equality of opportunity to every region of the country," said Prime Minister Harper.

Today's announcement, which builds on last year's investment of $591 million, brings total federal funding for The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative to more than $1 billion.

"It's hard to overstate the importance of Asia-Pacific trade to Canada's economic future. The Gateway Initiative is obviously critical to realizing our potential as a country," concluded the Prime Minister.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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