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This week I'd like to talk about investing. Particularly about how the Graham government is investing in Moncton to the tune of over a hundred million dollars.

This is money that will be invested right here at home that will provide Monctonians with new infrastructure, employment opportunities and limitless potential for economic development in the hub city.

It has been said in the past that governments tend to wind down in the summer months. I can tell you for a fact that this is certainly not the case with our government.

In the last few weeks alone I have had the opportunity to participate in two very important announcements and initiatives: the restoration of the Petitcodiac River, and the recently announced Casino New Brunswick.

First, the Petitcodiac River. Premier Graham and I announced a few weeks ago that the government will be investing $20 million into this restoration over the next few years. There are three phases to this initiative.

Phase 1 involves planning, remediation work and site preparation to prevent erosion.

This includes shoreline and erosion protection up and down the river channel, waterline relocation, drainage improvements, and dyke and aboiteau construction.

Once this work is complete, the gates of the causeway will be opened in the spring of 2010.

Phase 2 involves allowing the river to flow freely as a tidal river. With the gates open, the seasonal response will be monitored for up to two annual cycles as the river, fish population, and the surrounding habitat adjust to the change.

Phase 3 involves the construction of a 280-metre-long bridge. The new structure will have four lanes of traffic, and will tie into the existing Findlay Boulevard and approach ramps on the Riverview side of the Petitcodiac.

Building the new bridge will take three to four years to complete, depending on federal/provincial funding support and seasonal weather conditions.

Once the new bridge is completed, the existing gates structure will be removed to allow for an eventual river opening of between 72 and 225 metres in width.

This is a commitment that we made in our Charter for Change - to restore the river in a timely fashion. I'm very happy to say that it is yet another commitment that we have delivered on.

Secondly, the casino project. This is a $90 million dollar investment to build Casino New Brunswick, a destination casino, hotel and multi-use entertainment and convention centre.

The facility will be located south of the Trans-Canada Highway, off Exit 450 onto Mountain Road, and is expected to open in the spring of 2010. It will create the equivalent of 400 full-time jobs when completed, and 770 full-time job equivalents during construction.

The casino complex will be comprised of three completely separate and distinct buildings - a hotel, the Palladium (a multifunction entertainment and convention centre), and the casino - all integrated into one linear design.

The buildings will be connected by an interior corridor that allows internal access to all three buildings.

The corridor will be a gallery for pedestrians, with the intention being to accent the walking path with pictures of the province's 69 lighthouses. A lighthouse theme will be a feature of the exterior design of the casino building.

The Palladium will have the capacity to host theatre and musical productions of up to 1,500 seats (with proper stage), and banquet seating for weddings or similar events in rooms that can hold from 125 seats to over 1,400, and classroom seating from 288 people to more than 1,400.

The entire project is being funded by the private sector, with no government funding involved, however this is a first-class project which will have many spinoff and direct economic benefits for the region.

Both of these great initiatives will have a very positive effect on our region. Having both a sustainable environment and a strong economy will help build a more self-sufficient province.

* Mike Murphy is the Provincial Health Minister and MLA for Moncton-North. His column appears bi-weekly in Moncton This Week. If you would like to reach him, stop by his office on Mountain Road or phone 869-6115.