Kelowna, British Columbia, July 12, 2007 - The Honourable Stockwell
Day, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Tom
Christensen, Minister of Children and Family Development, on behalf of
Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services, along with her
Worship Sharon Shepherd, Mayor of the City of Kelowna, and Robert Hobson,
2nd Vice-President of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)
on behalf of UBCM President Brenda Binnie, today officially marked the
transfer of $11 million in federal funding to begin the Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) system in the Central Okanagan."Through our partnership with
British Columbia and UBCM, Canada's New Government is delivering benefits
that will build strong and healthy communities that offer prosperity,
cleaner air and a high quality of life," said Minister Day. "Reliable and
efficient public transit is key to ensuring sustainable and vibrant
communities, and contributing to the health of the environment right here
in the Okanagan Valley."The Gas Tax Funding for the Regional
District of Central Okanagan will help with the development of the first
two phases of the BRT program from downtown Kelowna to the UBC-Okanagan
campus."Increased transportation options mean less traffic
congestion, improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,
making a difference in our day-to-day lives and supporting vibrant,
integrated communities," said Tom Christensen, Minister of Children and
Family Development and MLA for Okanagan-Vernon. "When governments and
organizations such as UBCM work together, our communities can be socially
responsive and environmentally sustainable.""We welcome the
federal gas tax funding to assist with the introduction of the Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) program, which will further increase the service provided by
the Kelowna Regional Transit System," said Mayor Shepherd on behalf of the
Regional District. "The BRT will result in faster travel times and shorter
trips for passengers between the Queensway terminal and UBC-Okanagan.
Customers will see more frequent peak hour service and 15 minute service
at other times. I'm pleased our federal and provincial partners recognize
the important role that public transit infrastructure plays in creating a
sustainable community."Canada's New Government is providing $635.6
million to British Columbia from 2005 to 2010 through the Gas Tax
Agreement. In Budget 2007, and as part of its $33 billion "Building
Canada" plan, the Government of Canada extended the Gas Tax Fund by an
additional $2 billion per year nationally, from 2010 to 2014. The Gas Tax
Agreement is administered in British Columbia by the Union of BC
Municipalities."Today's announcement demonstrates that
partnerships like the Gas Tax Fund Agreement are an effective means for
delivering results to British Columbians," said UBCM 2nd Vice-President
Hobson. "This federal funding supports a significant innovation in the
Central Okanagan transit system."Today's announcement comes as
part of a group of funding decisions under the Strategic Priorities fund
of the Canada – British Columbia – UBCM Gas Tax Agreement that will
provide $105.9 million in funding over the first five years of the
Agreement in BC. For images of the BRT project or further details
on other recent Gas Tax Fund Agreement news releases, go to www.civicnet.bc.ca 'News
& Announcements' or www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Natalie SarafianPress Secretary to the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon613-991-0700Marc BlackCommunications
ManagerMinistry of Community Services(250) 356 6334
Paul TaylorRelationships and Communications AdvisorUnion of BC
Municipalities(250) 356 2938
Bruce SmithCommunication CoordinatorCentral Okanagan Regional
District(250) 469 6339
Karen CairnsCommunications ManagerCity of Kelowna(250) 469
8663
Infrastructure Canada 613-948-1148
