The 2014-2015 Capital Budget will invest over $73 million in infrastructure projects across the Province, says Finance, Energy and Municipal Affairs Minister Wes Sheridan.

“Our stimulus budgets kept Islanders working, and the economy moving ahead, during the global economic downturn,” said Minister Sheridan. “Now that spending is back to traditional levels it is important to preserve, and build upon, all we were able to accomplish during those years. This Capital Budget will see further investments in new manors, schools and health facilities, as well as improvements to our information technology and transportation infrastructure.”

The Budget includes:

• Funding for a new stand-alone Palliative Care Centre, which will be completed by the Fall of next year;

• Renovations to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital day surgery will be completed at a total cost of $8 million;

• The Manor replacement program will continue with construction of the Riverview Manor in Montague;

• Funding has been allocated for a new 24-bed long-term care facility in Tyne Valley;

• Work continues on the Souris K-12 School, with the first phase to open in 2014;

• Construction will start on the additions to École François-Buote;

• Eight million dollars, over five years, will go to improving IT infrastructure for students;

• An additional $5 million for the Education system will refresh desktop computers and migrate to the Windows 7 operating system;

• Investments in much needed software across Government to increase efficiency and productivity will total $8.6 million in the next year, in addition to expenditures for Education;

• This includes an investment of $2.2 million to create a web and mobile platform for the delivery of government services, in order to reduce red tape, and to continue to respond to the needs of Islanders;

• Another $27 million for projects to further improve the highway system; and

• New spending is committed for the Bonshaw Hills Wilderness Park.

“It is clear that the investments we made since 2007 in our province’s infrastructure have provided significant benefits, and continue to do so,” said Minister Sheridan. “We look forward to working with the Island construction sector to implement this Capital program.”

View the Capital Budget online at www.gov.pe.ca/capitalbudget.