I wanted to take the opportunity to let all towns and communities in Vegreville-Wainwright know that all of the federal funding for the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) projects has been allocated. Briefly, RInC’s purpose was to provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy by creating local jobs in our communities, while at the same time improving recreational infrastructure that is vital for our families and children. As part of our Government’s Economic Action Plan, implemented to respond quickly to the global economic downtown, this was a onetime program to infuse stimulus into local economies.

When the RInC program was announced I held information sessions for towns and councils to help ensure everyone was aware of both the projects available and the application process. My office offered assistance to applicants throughout the entire process, and I am very proud that 11 communities in my riding of Vegreville-Wainwright were able to benefit from our Government’s RInC program, to a total of over $2.8 million. I certainly look forward to seeing the successful completion of these renovations.

I’ve had some people tell me that I “should have made it happen” when it comes to some programs that did not receive funding.  It would be extremely inappropriate for me to exert influence on the system to have one application be selected over another simply to suit any preferences I might have personally. That is exactly what happened under the Liberals and which lead to the sponsorship scandal with millions of taxpayer dollars going unaccounted for into the pockets of Liberal friends. Is that what you want from your government? It isn’t what I want from mine and it isn’t what I pledged to do when I was elected.

It is exactly because I represent the whole riding of Vegreville-Wainwright that I should not and will not “play favourites”.  Everyone deserves a fair chance and I ensured, to the best of my ability, that that was provided for all.

I am proud to be part of a government that has changed the way program funding is handled – effectively removing politicians from the decision-making process. Through the Federal Accountability Act and other legislation, our Conservative government has eliminated most patronage and has ensured that funding is determined by merit. Projects receive funding based on both how well they meet the criteria of the programs under which they apply, and obviously on how much funding is available.

There were more than 500 applications for RInC funding across Alberta, totalling just under $200 million. The budget for the program was one quarter of that amount – clearly not all applications were going to be successful. Western Diversification Canada evaluated all the applications according to the program criteria set out in the application process. Every project was considered using exactly the same criteria. Vegreville-Wainwright constituency actually received more than its ‘share’ of this funding.

The Government is proud to have invested in 198 projects across Alberta, at a cost of over $52 million. The numbers show that clearly the demand for funding was greater than the funds available. To me, that indicates the program was successful and I will continue to work for my constituents as our Government continues to push forward with Phase Two of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Leon Benoit, MP