March 11, 2003

News Release – Communiqué

KINGSTON — On March 5, 2003, the Honourable David Collenette, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area; the Honourable Brian Coburn, Minister of Tourism and Recreation; and Keith Laushway, Chair of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation, announced an important investment under the Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Program for the development of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Greenway and Trail. 

The overall Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation project includes the expansion and enhancement of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Greenway and Trail, along Lake Ontario and the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Gananoque. This investment will make an important contribution to 25 communities in Southern Ontario. Construction is expected to be complete by 2006. 

The Government of Canada through Industry Canada and the Government of Ontario through SuperBuild will each contribute up to $4,600,000 to the project.  The Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation and other community partners will invest the balance of the project’s total eligible cost of $26,300,000.  

Connecting communities located along Lake Ontario’s shoreline, this Trail is integral to revitalizing the economy, enhancing the environment and improving community quality of life.   

The Honourable Peter Milliken, MP for Kingston and the Islands, and the Honourable Bob Runciman, MPP for Leeds–Grenville, welcome this investment, which also includes a project that will benefit residents in this community.  

The City of Kingston will construct 720 metres of trail to link a new park, south of King Street West, to the waterfront trail behind the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital.  The new asphalt trail will feature benches at viewing locations. 

“Our city is the starting point for the Waterfront Regeneration project and I am happy to note this joint project, bringing together senior levels of governments, municipalities and community organizations, will be of great benefit to Kingston,” said Mr. Milliken. 

“The new trail system will provide improved access to the vast array of tourism and recreational experiences available on Kingston’s waterfront,” said Mr. Runciman.  “The Ernie Eves government is proud to support a project that will enhance this city's reputation as a major port of call on the St. Lawrence Seaway and a gateway to the magnificence of the Thousand Islands.” 

“The federal and provincial governments have created an excellent opportunity for waterfront regeneration through this investment,” said Mr. Laushway.  “We are grateful for the enthusiastic support the Trail receives from the public and the growing number of private resources now participating in the work to regenerate the waterfront.” 

“The Waterfront Greenway and Trail represent an exciting and historic commitment by local leaders, communities and businesses to regenerate one of this country’s assets, the Lake Ontario waterfront,” said Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation Founding Chair David Crombie. 

This is one of a series of matching federal and provincial investments to help municipalities improve the quality of life of their residents through essential infrastructure projects totaling more than $1 billion to date in Ontario.  More announcements under the Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Program are coming. 

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Contacts: 

 For more information, visit:             www.ic.gc.ca/coip-pico or www.SuperBuild.ca