News Release
For Release
August 29, 2007
SALMON ARM – The community of Lakemount, in the Columbia-Shuswap
Regional District, will have access to clean, safer drinking water thanks
to $633,332 in federal and provincial government funding, Okanagan-Shuswap
MP Colin Mayes and Shuswap MLA and B.C. Minister of Health George Abbott,
announced today.
“This investment delivers a sustainable water source to the community,
and reflects the commitment of Canada’s New Government to encourage
action on things that matter most to Canadians – a clean, safe
and healthy environment for our citizens,” said MP Colin Mayes.
The Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF)
grant will help pay for a new water system that includes intake works,
a distribution system, dual disinfection systems and a protected storage
reservoir.
“It is important that residents of our communities have access
to a healthy supply of clean drinking water and this funding will ultimately
result in the end of a long term boil water advisory that has been in
place here,” said Minister Abbott. “Through our partnership
with the federal government and the regional district, we are making
this a reality in Lakemount.”
Under the initial CBCMRIF agreement signed in June 2006, the federal and provincial governments
each committed $51 million to the fund, with participating local governments
expected to make up the remaining costs. This year, Canada’s
New Government and the Province of B.C. have each provided an additional
$23.5 million to CBCMRIF as part of their commitment to help smaller
communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional
funding brings the total federal and provincial investment in CBCMRIF
projects to nearly $150 million.
The majority of the funding is targeted towards communities of fewer
than 250,000 people and at least 60 per cent of the funding will assist
with “green projects” such as drinking water supply, treatment
and distribution needs as well as wastewater and energy efficiency projects.
The remaining funds will be dedicated to other projects like tourism,
recreation and other infrastructure.
More details on the program are available through the Canada-British Columbia
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund website, at www.canadabcmrif.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Karl Yeh
Western Economic Diversification Canada
604 666-4714
Marc Black
B.C. Ministry of Community Services
250 356-6334
