FROM MP DEAN DEL MASTRO'S OFFICE

PETERBOROUGH - October 16, 2009 - Residents of the Ridings of Peterborough and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock will benefit from federal and provincial infrastructure funding to realize an expansion of the Peterborough Municipal Airport. The project was announced today by Dean Del Mastro, MP for Peterborough, Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, Barry Devolin, MP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock and Rick Johnson, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $7 million in the project with the City of Peterborough contributing the final $7 million for a total project cost of $21 million.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is getting shovels in the ground and flowing money faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Ontarians," said Dean Del Mastro, MP for Peterborough. "Thanks to the strong relationship between our two governments, we can work together to help Ontario communities and the economy thrive immediately and in the future."

"Under the strong leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario is making historical infrastructure investments across the province and we have been since 2003," said MPP Jeff Leal."Investing in this project will create jobs now and help stimulate our local economy. Over the longer term we are also working hard to create a competitive advantage that attracts business and strengthens Ontario's economy."

"With the support of our Federal, Provincial and municipal partners, we are extremely eager to proceed with the exciting plans for the Peterborough Municipal Airport," stated Mayor Paul Ayotte, City of Peterborough. "This investment will position us well to realize future economic and employment opportunities. I am grateful for the hard work and tireless efforts of all MP's and MPP's involved for this long-awaited opportunity."

"The County supports this project, and is very pleased to see that the Federal and Provincial governments share the City's vision as it relates to the importance and economic benefits that can be realized through an Airport Expansion. This announcement will help both the Airport and our broader region retain and create jobs, and to achieve its potential." said County of Peterborough Warden Ron Gerow.

This funding will help to develop a more comprehensive aviation industrial park and an Aerospace Cluster at the Peterborough Municipal Airport. The airside development program will include apron and runway expansion, development of the general aviation areas, construction of a new central apron and runway, air terminal building and groundside commercial development.

This project is one of nearly 1,200 across the province that will break ground thanks to $1.84 billion in joint federal and provincial funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.