Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, committee members. I promise not to take the full ten minutes.
We're pleased to be here today to speak to the Government of Canada's G-8 legacy fund. Joining me today from Infrastructure Canada is my colleague Mr. Taki Sarantakis, the assistant deputy minister of policy and communications.
As the committee is well aware, Canada hosted the G-8 summit on June 25 and 26 of this year in the Muskoka region. This was Canada's fifth time hosting a summit since joining the G-8 in 1976. In budget 2009 the Government of Canada provided $50 million as a legacy fund to the Parry Sound--Muskoka region, which was the host of this year's summit. The funding was very much designed to assist the region to prepare for the hosting of the international summit as well as in part to compensate the region for the inconveniences of hosting an international event of this magnitude.
As the committee members present can surely appreciate, having a large group of world leaders and their respective delegations presents a number of significant challenges to the local population. These include dealing with the increased security, the media, and the sheer disruption of everyday life associated with this type of world-class event. The funding was intended to support projects that would enhance the visual and tourism image of the region and contribute to the successful hosting of the G-8 conference. This was not nor should it be seen as a traditional infrastructure program. It was very much a legacy to the region from the Government of Canada.
In total, we approved funding for 32 projects throughout the region, including for the G8 Centre in Huntsville and the North Bay Airport.
Sixteen different municipalities received much-needed infrastructure moneys to help improve their local roads and tourist attractions and beautify the downtown streetscaping to ensure that they were ready to host the world in June of this year. These municipalities worked night and day and mobilized contractors to ensure these projects were completed within the very tight timelines provided by the fund. These projects will help to leave a legacy for the region for both tourists and residents alike. They are to be commended for their efforts and the outcomes.
Mr. Chairman, the funding granted to the region for hosting the G8 Summit is consistent with the government longstanding tradition for this type of international event, mainly: the APEC Summit in 1997 in Vancouver, for which the Canadian government invested $60 million to widen route 1 and to make improvements to the Vancouver International Airport bridge, as well as to establish the new forestry centre at the University of British Colombia; the G8 Summit in 2002, in Kananaskis, Alberta, for which the government of Canada invested $5 million under an environmental heritage fund and built a passage for wild animals in Canmore along with the creation of a University of Calgary chair in fauna.
Furthermore, in Halifax in 1995 the Government of Canada provided $300,000 for the retrofit and rehabilitation of the Bluenose schooner; $8.1 million for local infrastructure investments to Halifax and Dartmouth areas, including local roads, beautification of the downtown areas, and streetscapings; as well as a $3.1 million contribution to retrofit Pier 21, which was provided to the community as a gift after the summit was completed.
That ends my opening remarks. My colleague and I would be more than prepared to answer questions.