City, Federal and Provincial Governments announce major joint job creating infrastructure funding
 
Brantford – February 13, 2009/ The City of Brantford will be moving forward with a planned upgrade of the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre thanks to joint federal and provincial funding of $6 million.
 
"This is wonderful news for the City of Brantford, said  Mayor Mike Hancock.  The Federal and Provincial investment in the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre supports our priority of building a healthier community for recreational purposes while strengthening our economy."
 
The funding is Brantford’s share of the nearly $1 billion dollars in infrastructure funding for Ontario communities announced earlier today by Canada’s Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister The Honourable John Baird, and Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure The Honourable George Smitherman.  In Brantford the province and federal government will kick in $3 million each with the City covering the final 3rd of the expected costs.
 
“We’re creating jobs by doing this and making our community stronger by investing in it,” said MP Phil McColeman.  “We’re delivering results in these difficult times by building roads, bridges and water systems across Ontario and by this project right here in Brantford.  Together we’re going to get through this.”
 
The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre is one of 289 projects across the province that will soon break ground thanks to a federal-provincial-municipal investment of more than $1 Billion.  The governments of Canada and Ontario have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Ontario Communities for the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.
 
“This is the kind of co-operative venture that produces the most effective and efficient projects any level of government can hope for,” said MPP Dave Levac.  “This partnership is what the public expects and deserves.  It has been an honour working with all the partners to achieve this goal. Congratulations to all.”
 
Upgrades to the Sports Centre will include a 25m – 8 lane training pool that can be used for competitive training, as a warm up pool during competitions and for recreational use.  In addition the new funding will allow the City to construct a dry-land training centre including upgraded fitness and weight training areas.  The new facility is expected to pay dividends in the form of sport tourism dollars for years to come.
 
Funding is being provided by the Federal and Provincial governments under the Communities Component of the Build Canada Fund.