Heritage Presser

Federal, Provincial and city representatives praise infrastructure improvements

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Federal, Provincial and City of Summerside representatives held a press conference at Heather Moyse Heritage Park Wednesday morning to announce the completion of several projects in Summerside.

Bernard Valcourt, federal minister of state for the Atlantic Canada opportunities agency and la Francophonie, Gail Shea, federal minister of national revenue, Ron McKinley, provincial minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, Janice Sherry, provincial minister of community services, Mayor Basil Stewart and Ron Perry, president of the Summerside Regional Development Corporation talked about several completed infrastructure projects totaling about $13 million in combined federal, province and municipal spending.

The completed projects were upgrades to the Heather Moyse Heritage Park,

 reconstruction of the marina seawall near the Summerside Yacht Club, which received about $500,000 in additional funding from the SRDC, road, water service and sewer reconstruction, improvements on the West End walkway and installing shoreline protection at the West End of Summerside.

Perry emceed the event while Valcourt, McKinley and Stewart gave speeches, complimenting each other on their ability to work together on the projects. Shea and Sherry introduced the speakers.

These types of improvements are happening all over Canada as part of the Economic Action plan.

During his speech Valcourt said the improvements were to help upgrade the quality of life in Summerside.

“And they are important to the growth and development of key local business sectors like tourism.”

Valcourt said the creation of jobs while improving local infrastructure were reasons the federal government investments were made.

“We have through out Canada today 540,000 Canadians more working than before the recession,” he said. “We want to continue in the direction that we have established.”

McKinley said the investments have helped the Island.

“It’s all good for tourism in the province of Prince Edward Island and when tourists come here the province picks up 10.5 per cent of everything they spend and we need the money the way we’re spending.”