For Release
October 11, 2007
Vanderhoof, British Columbia – Canada’s
New Government and the Province of British Columbia are jointly investing
$1 million in upgrades to Vanderhoof’s drinking water system through
the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF). The announcement
was made today by Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, and John
Rustad, MLA for Prince George-Omineca.
“Canada’s New Government is working in partnership to build
sustainable infrastructure that supports a cleaner and healthier environment
for local residents,” said MP Harris, 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. “This joint investment of $1 million for improvements
to the water treatment facility within the Thompson Nicola Regional District
will enable residents to access clean potable drinking water.”
The funding will allow the District of Vanderhoof to enhance its water
supply and treatment system, including the installation of chlorination
and filtration systems, new pumps, backup power and a supervisory control
and data acquisition system (SCADA). This project is conditionally approved
pending the completion of an environmental assessment.
“Our government is committed to ensuring residents have access
to safe and healthy drinking water; that is why we are funding sustainable
infrastructure projects like this,” said Rustad. “Through
our partnership with the federal and local governments, more than 2000
residents will benefit from improved drinking water.”
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 CBCMRIF 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
