Finance

2004-05 Capital Budget: 26 per cent higher than last year (03/12/16)

NB 1199

Dec. 16, 2003

FREDERICTON (CNB) -- The 2004-2005 Capital Budget highlights the government's commitment to invest in strategic infrastructure by maintaining what we have and by building what we need.

Finance Minister Jeannot Volpé today announced a budget with $375.8 million in gross capital spending, which is 26 per cent higher than last year.

"We will build strategic infrastructure that improves our competitiveness," Volpé said. "We will build infrastructure that facilitates the movement of people, goods and services to national and international markets. We will also build strategic infrastructure that ensures quality public services, essential to our quality of life."

Highlights follow:

• The capital budget for the Department of Health and Wellness is $53.7 million, a 46.2 per cent increase over 2003-2004 revised figures. It includes $25.0 million for capital equipment in hospitals, including $11.3 million for diagnostic medical equipment, along with strategic investments in new and existing health care infrastructure. Examples include $12.1 million for ongoing construction of the Stan Cassidy Rehabilitation Centre in Fredericton, $3.0 million to plan a new hospital in the upper St. John River Valley, and $2.0 million for the new Ambulatory Care and Laboratory Services building at The Moncton Hospital.



• The capital budget for the Department of Education is $46.0 million, a 31.4 per cent increase over 2003-2004 revised figures. It provides for the first year of a new, four-year, $100-million commitment to the Healthy Schools Program. The capital estimates also contain $2.0 million for repairs and renovations to the community college network.



• The capital budget for highway infrastructure is $241.8 million, a 23.3 per cent increase over 2003-2004 revised figures. The budget provides $135.0 million to upgrade and rehabilitate our existing network of highways, bridges and ferries; this includes $18.0 million for Routes 11 and 17, of which $15.7 million is for construction and $2.3 million is for planning and pre-construction activities. The budget also includes $101.8 million for the Trans-Canada Highway, of which $78.1 million is for twinning the highway and $23.7 million is for major projects on the highway under two programs: the Highway Improvement Program and the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. In addition, $5.0 million is an initial investment to improve border crossings at St. Stephen and Woodstock.

Individual ministers will provide details during presentation of their department's capital estimates for 2004-2005. However, among other projects mentioned in the finance minister's speech are the following:

• $14.5 million under the $163.0 million Canada - New Brunswick Infrastructure Program, which focuses on "green municipal infrastructure" to ensure safe drinking water and more effective waste management systems
• $7.0 million for government equipment such as school buses
• $3.0 million for capital repairs to improve the health and safety of government buildings
• $1.6 million to rehabilitate earthen dams in the Musquash watershed
• $500,000 to maintain fire halls and recreation facilities in local service districts.

"We have made choices and set priorities," Volpé said. "We have targeted our financial resources, being careful and fiscally responsible. We are maintaining what we have and building what we need. We are strengthening our competitiveness, enhancing public health and safety, and improving the quality of life of New Brunswickers."

03/12/16

EDITOR'S NOTE: The text of the minister's speech and the capital estimates will be posted online at http://www.gnb.ca/0024/index-e.asp. MEDIA CONTACTS: Ann Deveau or Vicky Deschênes, communications, Finance, telephone 506-453-2451, fax, 506-457-4989, e-mail, wwwfin@gnb.ca.

03/12/16