News Release
For Release
September 04, 2007
NAKUSP - The Village of Nakusp will improve its waste water treatment system thanks to an investment of $647,381 in federal and provincial government funding through the Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF). The funding was announced today by Jim Abbott, MP for Kootenay-Columbia 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, along with Minister of Community Services, Ida Chong.
“Canada’s New Government is getting things done for the Village of Nakusp, and recognizes the importance of building stronger communities,” said MP Jim Abbott. "This joint funding of nearly $650,000 will make Nakusp's wastewater treatment systems more environmentally-friendly, and enhance the community's ability to conserve water."
The CBCMRIF investment will allow the Village of Nakusp to improve its existing wastewater treatment facility with re-claimed water reservoirs and an irrigation distribution system, and by installing a chlorinator, two new sand filters and a UV disinfection unit. This project will bring the treated wastewater to re-claimed wastewater irrigation quality in order to irrigate the Village’s green spaces, offsetting summer peak demands on drinking water system. This project is conditionally approved pending the completion of an environmental assessment.
“The Province is committed to ensuring B.C. communities, like Nakusp, are greener and healthier by supporting improved, sustainable infrastructure,” said Chong. “We are pleased to partner in funding this enhancement of the village’s wastewater system, providing significant environmental benefits, now and in the future.”
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 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 less 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
Communications Advisor
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia
Tel: (604) 666-4714
Marc Black
B.C. Ministry of Community Services
250 356-6334
