“Under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is taking action to stimulate the economy here in Tignish,” said Minister Shea. “The Tignish Post Office is a part of our heritage and an important cultural landmark in the community. We are working with the Government of Prince Edward Island to restore this historic building, while ensuring that Island communities remain strong and vibrant during these challenging economic times.”

“The Government of Prince Edward Island is working hard to meet the needs of our One Island Community,” said Minister Bertram. “The Tignish Post Office is a designated heritage site; this project is key to the sustainability of this significant building and our rural heritage.”

“We are very excited that the Tignish Post Office Project has been approved and we look forward to restoring this historic treasure for our community,” said Colin Arsenault, chair of Tignish Initiatives Corporation. “We were at real risk of losing this cultural landmark in our community, so Tignish Initiatives purchased the building and worked to secure the funding to carry out the work. The Tignish Post Office building has played an important role in our community for the past 98 years. The restoration would not be possible without the stimulus money announced here today and funding will go a long way in ensuring that this building be a vibrant part of our community for many years to come.”

Under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, Canada and Prince Edward Island will each provide $135,000 for the renovation of the Tignish Post Office. The remainder of the project will be funded by the Tignish Initiatives Corporation, a non-profit organization for community development. Project work includes repairing brick and masonry work, making the building wheelchair accessible, repairing the roof, and doing overall aesthetic enhancements. This historical property will be restored to its former glory, and will be operated by the Tignish Initiatives Corporation.

Project work is scheduled to begin in late September, with completion expected by February 2010.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government established the $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly by providing funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Up to $15.8 million in infrastructure stimulus funding has previously been announced for projects in Prince Edward Island.

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund complements the Building Canada Plan, through which the federal government will provide an additional $302.42 million between 2007 and 2014 for infrastructure improvements in Prince Edward Island.

The Province of Prince Edward Island is committed to strengthening our One Island Community. Through infrastructure initiatives, the province has committed over $80 million to community infrastructure projects. For more information on infrastructure programs in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.

For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.