PM announces new bridge to complete ring road and ease traffic congestion in Saskatoon

Thank you very much.  First of all, thank you everybody for that warm welcome.  Thank you, Carol, for your kind introduction.  As I think many of you know, Carol will not be seeking re-election.  She will be retiring after three terms federally.  She'll be spending some well-deserved time with her family, with children and grandchildren, and so I just want to take this opportunity to thank Carol, not just for the great help you've given me over the years, but for the great representation you've given this city, this province and our great country.  You've symbolized public service, so thank you very much. 

Premier Wall, colleagues from the Parliament of Canada, we have local MP Lynne Yelich here, Rob Clarke as well is here, honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly, Your Worship Mayor Atchison, nice to see you, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.  It is an exciting time to be back in Saskatoon. This is the fastest growing city, in what I think is the fastest growing province, that is set to lead the country in GDP growth this year.  In fact, it's booming here so much, we had trouble getting a hotel room for my trip out here. But the energy here is palpable.  I think optimism for the future has never been greater.  To quote a recent report from Statistics Canada, Saskatoon has entered, quote, "a new era of prosperity".  The province is attracting people and investment from everywhere.  Home values have doubled, exports are thriving and there are more and better opportunities for jobs and new businesses than the province has seen in a very long time; in fact, I think probably better than at any time within the lifetime of just about everyone alive in Saskatchewan today.  I even noticed an article on this amazing story in a recent edition of the respected international publication The Economist.  So Saskatchewan's success is now attracting international attention.

Saskatchewan is becoming a real Canadian success story. Such rapid and spectacular success has a price, however, and nowhere is that more evident than here in Saskatoon.  Traffic congestion has become one of the city's biggest concerns.  Increasingly roadways are crammed.  That is threatening Saskatoon's cherished short commutes and relaxed pace of life.  Driving times for some commuters have more than tripled.  That means more money spent on high-priced gasoline, more pollution and more stress on drivers.  Worse, it cuts into precious family time for everyone.  Gridlock also threatens future economic growth.  Northern Saskatchewan's export boom depends on the efficient flow of goods and services through Saskatoon's inner modal freight terminal.  So when traffic is jammed on Idlewild Drive or Circle Drive North, products destined for markets across Canada and around the world aren't going anywhere.  Unless we take action now, it is only going to get worse.  Now, last spring our Government partnered with the province and the city to fund two badly-needed new interchanges along Circle Drive at Lorne Avenue and at Idlewild Drive, but we need to complete the final section of the Saskatoon Centre ring road, and that is what brings us here today.

I'm pleased to announce that we are joining with the provincial and city governments to complete the Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest project by going ahead with the South River crossing.  The new six-lane bridge spanning the South Saskatchewan will ease traffic congestion throughout the city, it will shorten commute times, reduce fuel consumption and expense, improve city air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it will create hundreds of well-paying local construction jobs.  But perhaps most critically, it will help keep the local and provincial economy growing by improving its connections to markets across the continent and around the world.  The federal contribution for the Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest project will flow from our Building Canada plan, our Government's multi-billion dollar commitment to improve the flow of people and goods across the country.

This announcement is a key part of our Government's ambitious plan for renewing Canada's national economic infrastructure.  From coast to coast, we'll be building roads, bridges, short sea shipping facilities and rail lines.  Our goal is to ensure that every part of our country can benefit from the enormous opportunities that lie before us.  Since taking office, we've earmarked a total of $33 billion for investment in infrastructure.  This is the largest infrastructure development program our country has seen in over half a century.  By upgrading our national highway system, unblocking our border crossings and improving our gateway facilities on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, our Government is ensuring Canada's future prosperity, stimulating investment and creating jobs and improving our quality of life.  Now, of course, all of these benefits will accrue to Saskatoon as a result of today's announcement.  I would like to thank our Government's Minister responsible for Saskatchewan, Gerry Ritz, as well as our local MPs, Lynne Yelich, of course, who is the Member of Parliament for this riding, Maurice Vellacott, Brad Trost and in particular Carol Skelton for successfully making the case in Ottawa that the South River Crossing Project is essential to address Saskatoon's burgeoning economic and population growth.  I'd also like to thank Premier Wall and Mayor Atchison.  Their support and cooperation have been essential to bringing the project to fruition.  The Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest project is a testament to what can be achieved when governments embrace the true spirit of the federalism of openness and work together to make the country stronger, safer and better.  Thank you very much, and now I'll call on Premier Wall. 

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