Vernon, British Columbia, October 5, 2007 - Residents in the Greater
Vernon region will see improvements to their water system thanks to nearly
$14 million from the federal and provincial governments for the
construction of a new treatment plant on Duteau Creek.
The announcement was made today by Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament
for Okanagan – Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable
Rona Ambrose, Minister of Western Economic Diversification, together with
Tom Christensen, Minister of Children and Family Development and MLA for
Okanagan-Vernon. Mr. Mayes and Mr. Christensen were joined by Union of BC
Municipalities (UBCM) Third Vice-President Mayor Terry Lake and North
Okanagan Regional District (NORD) Chair Jerry Oglow.
“Canada’s New Government is committed to the health of families and
strong, prosperous communities through infrastructure projects that
support a cleaner environment and a stronger, better country,” said Mr.
Mayes. “Improvements to Vernon’s water treatment facility will benefit not
only today’s residents, but also generations to come.”
The project will receive close to $10.5 million through the federal Gas
Tax Fund, and more than $3.3 million through the Canada-British
Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF). The North Okanagan
Regional District is contributing $6.1 million. The funds will pay for a
new water treatment building and a water reservoir, including water
clarification and chlorine disinfection systems. Under CBCMRIF, this
project is conditionally approved pending the completion of an
environmental assessment.
“Clean, safe drinking water is vital to the health of British Columbia
communities and improving the quality of life of residents,” said Minister
Christensen. “Residents in the Greater Vernon area will definitely benefit
from this substantial investment to their water system, the result of
partnerships between all levels of government.”
“This major infrastructure grant announcement will not only directly
contribute to the long-term economic health of our Greater Vernon
communities but will indirectly benefit the broader North Okanagan Region
who tends to mirror the successes of our largest neighbour,” said Jerry
Oglow, NORD Chair and Armstrong Mayor.
“One of the most basic services that local governments can provide is
clean, accessible drinking water,” said Third Vice-President Lake. “UBCM
applauds the partnership between Canada, BC and the NORD in undertaking
this significant capital project.”
Canada’s New Government is providing $635.6 million to British Columbia
from 2005 to 2010 through the Gas Tax Agreement. 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.
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.
Please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/
or www.civicnet.bc.ca
for background information on the Canada – BC – UBCM Gas Tax
Agreement.
Information on the Canada – BC Municipal Rural Infrastructure Program
is available at
www.canadabcmrif.ca
Contacts:
Karine WhitePress Secretary, Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities(613) 991-0700
Infrastructure Canada (613) 948-1148
Karl YehCommunications AdvisoryWestern Economic Diversification
Canada(604) 666-4714
Marc BlackCommunications ManagerMinistry of Community
Services(250) 356-6334
Paul TaylorRelationships and Communications AdvisorUnion of BC
Municipalities(250) 356-2938
Brian ReardonAdministratorNorth Okanagan Regional
District(250) 550-3700
