For Release
March 07, 2007
Drayton Valley, Alberta – Residents of the Town
of Drayton Valley will benefit from a “green” infrastructure
project that will upgrade wastewater treatment by improving energy efficiency
and enhancing filtration processes.
A combined federal/provincial investment of $3,550,000 will go toward
upgrading the existing continuous wastewater stabilization lagoons by
adding another wastewater stabilization cell, eliminating the existing
chlorination system and investing in new state-of-the art, energy-efficient
filtration technology.
Through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF),
the federal and provincial governments will each contribute a total of
$1,775,000 to the project.
Rob Merrifield, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead,
on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s
Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and Tony
Abbott, MLA for Drayton Valley - Calmar, on
behalf of the Honourable Luke Ouellette, Minister of Alberta Infrastructure
and Transportation, made the joint announcement today.
“Canada’s New Government is getting things
done for the people of Drayton Valley,” said MP Merrifield. “Today’s
investment of more than $3.5 million will provide the Drayton Valley
wastewater treatment plant with leading-edge environmental technologies
that will improve the quality of wastewater filtration and cut down on
energy consumption.”
“Managing growth pressures is one of Premier Stelmach’s
five priorities, and today’s announcement is a step toward achieving
this goal,” said MLA Abbott. “These improvements
to the Drayton Valley wastewater treatment plant will greatly benefit
the community.”
The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a joint initiative
between the Governments of Canada and Alberta that enables communities
to address local infrastructure needs. Over the course of CAMRIF,
the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $88 million
in funding for municipal infrastructure renewal.
A minimum of 55 per cent of funding under CAMRIF targets green infrastructure
projects that contribute to community economic development and environmental
quality of life. These include water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental
energy improvements and public transit. The fund also invests in recreational
infrastructure, tourism and cultural projects, local roads and broadband
connectivity. Projects are selected on a competitive basis from
applications received from Alberta communities.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892
Jerry Bellikka
Communications Director
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 415-1841
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.
Backgrounder
Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (CAMRIF)
The following project is receiving funding under the Canada-Alberta
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
Town of Drayton Valley
Wastewater Treatment Facility
Combined federal/provincial investment: $3,550,000 (pending
environmental assessment)
This project involves upgrading the existing continuous wastewater stabilization
lagoons by adding another wastewater stabilization cell, eliminating
the existing chlorination system and constructing a building that will
house a perforate plate screen, disk filters and an ultraviolet light
reactor.
Fact Sheet
Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)
Partnership Program
The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF) is
designed to address local infrastructure needs in rural and urban Alberta.
It ensures all Albertans, whether they live in large, small or remote
communities, share in the benefits of infrastructure investments.
Through
the fund, the Governments of Canada and Alberta invest in local infrastructure
projects. These projects are vital to sustaining strong economic growth
and quality of life in Canadian communities.
The federal-provincial
CAMRIF Agreement provides $88 million each in federal and provincial
funding for municipal infrastructure renewal, reflecting shared federal
and provincial priorities. With matching
one-third contributions from municipalities, total program funding
will be at least $264 million.
CAMRIF is implemented by Western Economic
Diversification Canada and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation,
and is administered by a joint secretariat.
Program Priorities
A minimum of 55 per cent of funding under CAMRIF targets green infrastructure
projects that contribute to community economic development and environmental
quality of life. These include water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental
energy improvements and public transit. The fund also invests
in recreational infrastructure, tourism and cultural projects, local
roads and broadband connectivity.
At least 80 per cent of CAMRIF funding
is dedicated to rural municipalities with a population of less than
250,000. The remaining 20 per cent is available to urban municipalities
with a population greater than 250,000.
A total of $1,760,000 is also
available to municipalities for Municipal Capacity Building (MCB) projects. Projects
may include, but is not limited to, the acquisition of infrastructure
planning software, training to use that software, planning studies
to determine the inventory and condition of infrastructure assets in
the municipality or the development of a demand asset management system.
Local input and collaboration
CAMRIF is managed by a six member Management Committee consisting
of two federal representatives, two provincial representatives, and
two members representing Alberta’s municipal associations—the
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association
of Municipal Districts and Counties. The Management Committee develops
the Management Committee guidelines and oversees the project review
and selection process. Projects are selected on a competitive basis
from applications received from Alberta communities. The deadline to
submit applications for the first intake was July 31, 2006.
Applications
for the second intake will be accepted in Spring 2007.
Environmental Assessment
CAMRIF projects are required to successfully complete applicable
environmental assessment processes, and funding is conditional on compliance
with all applicable federal and provincial requirements.
How to apply
For more information, contact the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Fund Joint Secretariat by phone (toll free) at 1-800-396-0214,
by e-mail at camrif@gov.ab.ca or visit the website www.camrif.ca.
Information
about Government of Canada and Alberta’s infrastructure
programs is available at www.infrastructure.gc.ca and www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca .
