In Hamilton, Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced an investment of more than $4 million for a major repair and rehabilitation project of the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge.

“Under the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has embarked on the largest infrastructure renewal program in half a century. With 80 per cent of the funding committed or spent we are putting the economy back on track across Canada,” said MP Wallace. “Our goal is to have shovels in the ground and people with jobs as quickly as possible, without sacrificing fairness, transparency or accountability to taxpayers.”

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and Budget 2009, this government is turning our short-term challenges into long-term strengths,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “By investing in bridges like the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge we are building a lasting legacy of sound infrastructure while creating jobs, right here in Hamilton and across the country.

Dayson Industrial Services Inc., of Hamilton, Ontario was awarded the $4,152,555 contract to strip and repaint the lift span of the bridge and conduct related repairs. The work will take place over the next two winter seasons when the bridge is closed to marine traffic. The project will prevent rusting and loss of structural steel on the bridge, ensuring the continuing health and safety of pedestrians, commuters and mariners. The work will ensure the continued safe operation of the bridge.

Public Works and Government Services Canada is the custodian of the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge located on the western end of Lake Ontario at the entrance to Hamilton Harbour. Marine traffic in the Burlington Canal averages 6,000 commercial vessels and pleasure crafts per year, and the average daily traffic over the bridge is 10,000 vehicles.

The Government of Canada is investing $12 billion in new infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, broadband Internet access, electronic health records, laboratories and border crossings across Canada. Moreover, as part of the Economic Action Plan, Public Works and Government Services Canada will be investing more than $400 million over the next two years to renew federal public infrastructure.

Topics: Canada, economic development, economic recovery, Economy, Governance, Hamilton, infrastructure, Ontario