CENTRAL SAANICH – A $1.1-million federal and provincial funding
contribution, through Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (CBCMRIF), will connect 64 homes in Central Saanich to a supply
of safe drinking water.
The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources 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 Murray Coell, MLA for Saanich North and
the Islands, Minister of Advanced Education and Minister responsible
for Technology, made the announcement today.
The funds will help to pay for the extension of the community drinking
water system by installing two new water mains, and 64 new residential
water meters.
“Canada’s New Government is working in partnership to improve
the quality of life for the residents of Saanich and surrounding areas,” said
Minister Lunn. “Through this joint investment of $1.1 million,
we are helping build healthy, clean and prosperous communities.”
“There are few things more important than ensuring a community
has access to safe drinking water,” said Coell. “This funding
ensures these residents will have a connection to a source of safe and
reliable drinking water and I’m pleased to see this happen through
the strong partnership between all three levels of government.”
“On behalf of Council, I would like to extend our sincere thanks
to both the Federal and Provincial Governments for their favourable consideration
of this application. Extension of the District’s water system
from the Thompson Road intersection on Mt. Newton Cross Road to the most
westerly extent of Senanus Drive would ensure a reliable and adequate
supply of potable domestic water to all residents who will be potentially
serviced by the waterline,” said Mayor Jack Mar, District of Central
Saanich. “Confirmation of the availability of this funding will
now permit the District to move forward with the next steps in the process
in consultation with the area residents.”
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 match this amount. This year, Canada’s New Government and
the Province of B.C. have each provided an additional $23.5 million to the
Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their commitment
to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This
additional funding brings the total federal and provincial investment and matching
local government contribution in CBCMRIF projects to over $220 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
