P.E.I. signs 10-year infrastructure deal worth $366M with Ottawa

The federal government and Prince Edward Island announced a new infrastructure deal Thursday morning that promises to provide $366 million in federal funding over the next decade.

The funding will be focused on green infrastructure, and recreational and cultural projects. There are no specific plans yet, but projects could include:

• Cleaning up air and water.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainable water management.
• Smart cities technologies.
• Enhancing public parks and recreational facilities.
• Better transportation links and digital infrastructure in remote communities.

The federal funding for specific projects will be cost shared with either the province, municipalities or private and not-for-profit groups depending on the application.

The federal government will contribute 50 per cent to provincial projects, 40 per cent for municipal and not-for-profit projects, and 25 per cent for private-sector projects.

The province is expected to develop a three-year plan for infrastructure projects.

"This new funding will provide Islanders with clean and reliable drinking water, increased green infrastructure, improved health and recreational opportunities, and more reliable community services," said Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulayin a news release.

The money is divided into four streams:

• Green infrastructure: $228 million.
• Community, culture and recreation infrastructure: $29 million.
• Rural communities infrastructure: $83 million.
• Public transit: $27 million.

The announcement is part of a $33 billion federal infrastructure fund.

Request for proposals coming

The money announced Thursday will not start to flow until 2019.

P.E.I. Infrastructure Minister Paula Biggar said projects from phase one of the federal government's infrastructure program are still being completed.

A request for proposals will be going out for this second phase soon, and provincial money for partnering in projects will be budgeted in the spring of 2019.

While she will have to wait for proposals to come in, Biggar has an idea what to expect.

"One of those going forward will be looking at the need for more broadband connectivity across Prince Edward Island," she said.

"The smaller communities, there's a lot of requests there for maybe some improvements to rinks."

Those smaller communities will also see funding for roads and bridges, said Biggar, as well as an opportunity to build recreational and cultural infrastructure.

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With files from Brittany Spencer