PM to make 'major announcement' in Saint John

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper comes to Saint John on Monday to deliver his government's latest economic report card, he will also make a "major economic announcement," MP Rodney Weston said Sunday.

The announcement will be made at New Brunswick Southern Railway at 1:30 p.m. AT, according to a news release from the Prime Minister's Office. Asked whether the announcement is related to the venue, the Saint John MP would only say that it serves as a "great backdrop."

"We want to highlight some of the projects that we've invested in here through our stimulus funding and we've invested in a major rail upgrade through Southern New Brunswick Rail and they're a partner with us and the province of New Brunswick as well," Weston said.

"So that makes a great backdrop — a great venue — for us to do this announcement."

In July, the federal and provincial governments announced $18 million in funding to upgrade the Irving-owned railway.

Company president Jim Irving had said the government grants will account for half of the company's total upgrades to its tracks, rail beds and bridges along its routes. The money is also being used to upgrade the rail terminals in McAdam and west Saint John.

The project is expected to create 35 to 40 jobs over the next two years, and translate into an estimated $10.6 million in wages and benefits over the life of the project, Irving has said.

The railway stretches to Brownville Junction, Me., from Saint John, and to St. Stephen from McAdam, N.B.

"We're proud of the investments we made in the rail," Weston said. "Looking at access in the markets, the New England states, or other parts of Canada, this puts us on the map."