Joint news release with the Government of Canada
The quality of Canada’s transportation infrastructure and the efficiency of the country’s trade corridors are key to the success of Canadian firms in the global marketplace. The Government of Canada supports infrastructure projects that create quality middle-class jobs and boost economic growth.
Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced a major investment of $6.9 million in the modernization of Yukon’s Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies that will enable smarter connections on Yukon’s trade corridors by giving users the data and information they need to make safe and efficient decisions.
The project will modernize infrastructure within seven components of the Intelligent Transportation Systems architecture:
- Commercial Vehicle Operations Support;
- Intelligent Transportation Systems Enablers; and
- Road Weather Information Systems:
- Frost Depth Monitoring Systems;
- Traffic Monitoring Systems;
- Structural Health Monitoring and Stream Monitoring Systems; and
- Advanced Traveler Information Management Systems.
The project is expected to have significant economic and employment benefits by creating 70 quality jobs during implementation.
The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s continued success in international trade. For example, projects being funded will:
- Support economic activity and the physical movement of goods or people in Canada;
- Help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation;
- Address transportation bottlenecks and congestion along Canada’s trade corridors; and
- Increase the fluidity of Canadian trade around the world through our ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, bridges and border crossings.
Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canada Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities are all eligible for funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund.
Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors. We are supporting projects that will efficiently move commercial goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and contribute to the resilience of the Canadian’s transportation network.
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport
This sophisticated technology will drive future strategic investments in transportation projects. It will also deliver better highway information to the public and improve safety in Yukon communities.
The Honourable Richard Mostyn, Minister of Highways and Public Works
Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies. The investment announced here today will make our transportation system stronger by modernizing the Yukon’s Intelligent Transportation Systems and fostering long-term prosperity for our community.
The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon
Transportation is an important element of Canada’s trade with other countries. In 2017, total international merchandise trade amounted to $1.1 trillion. The United States continued to be Canada’s top trade partner, with $703 billion in trade ($415 billion exported, $288 billion imported), accounting for 63.5 per cent of total Canadian trade in 2017.
The Government of Canada places a strong emphasis on exports because of the connection between trade and good, well-paying jobs, as industries that are export-intensive pay wages that are, on average, more than 50 per cent higher than industries that are not.
Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca
Heather McKay
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-456-3825
heather.mckay@gov.yk.ca