December 17, 2007
Beaver County, Alberta
The federal and provincial governments will invest over $1.2 million to upgrade Township Road 515A in Beaver County and the North Sewer Lift Station in the Village of Holden.
Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, 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 the Provincial representative, announced the funding today through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
"Today's investment will help ensure safe and efficient roads for drivers in Beaver County and provide a reliable wastewater system for the residents of the Village of Holden," said MP Benoit. "The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the Province of Alberta to invest in infrastructure that will have important, lasting benefits to the residents of these communities."
Township Road 515A project in Beaver County will upgrade a major roadway utilized by many residents and visitors to enter the Town, Cooking Lake Forest Reserve, the Blackfoot Grazing and Recreational Area. The region attracts more than 71,000 visitors annually and by improving the roadway drivers will have access to safer and more efficient roads. This project will also help reduce the environmental impact on the area from the agricultural, residential and tourism communities as these road improvements will ensure that safety standards are met.
"Widening Township Road 515A is another example of our commitment to improving Alberta's highways, and upgrading the sewer lift station will help ensure a safe water supply for Beaver County residents, said Minister Evans. "Upgrading roads and water treatment facilities reflect Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to secure Alberta's future by building communities, greening our growth and creating opportunity,"
The upgrade of the North Sewer Lift Station in the Village of Holden will provide the community with a reliable and efficient wastewater treatment facility that will be operational in the long term. The project will connect more households to municipal wastewater systems that will help the community have improved access to drinking water.
Under the initial CAMRIF Agreement signed in June 2006, the federal and provincial governments each committed $88 million to the fund, with participating local governments expected to make up the remaining costs. This year, the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta have each provided an additional $19 million to the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. The total amount available from the CAMRIF, with federal and provincial investment and matching local government contribution in projects, is $321 million.
A minimum of 55 per cent of funding under CAMRIF targets green infrastructure projects that contribute to community economic development and environmental quality of life. These include water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental energy improvements and public transit. The fund also invests in recreational infrastructure, tourism, cultural projects, local roads and broadband connectivity. Projects are selected on a competitive basis from applications received from Alberta communities.
Contacts:
Donna KinleyCommunications Manager Western Economic Diversification Canada Edmonton, AlbertaTel: (780) 495-6892Cell: (780) 991-7432
Darcy ScottPublic Affairs OfficerAlberta Infrastructure and TransportationEdmonton, AlbertaTel: (780) 422-1173Cell: (780) 914-9040
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)
The following projects are receiving funding under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
Beaver County
Township Road 515A
Combined federal/provincial investment: $1,133,332 (pending environmental assessment)
Increased traffic volume on Township Road 515A has become significant as it was not built to accommodate the current level of traffic. The road is narrow and it poses a safety concern to its users, as it was originally designed to only handle local agricultural and residential traffic. This project will widen the road between Highway 834 and Range Road 195 on Township Road 515A in order to ensure traffic moves efficiently and drivers using the road arrive safely to their destinations.
Village of Holden
Upgrade North Sewer Lift Station
Combined federal/provincial investment: $106,666 (pending environmental assessment)
The project will replace the North sewer lift station's pumps and upgrade the motor/pump proximity in order to save the wear on the pumps. The controls, ventilation, heating, pipes, valves and the building will be upgraded to ensure the sewer system will be operational for the long-term.
Fact Sheet
Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)
Partnership Program
The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF) is designed to address local infrastructure needs in rural and urban Alberta. It ensures all Albertans, whether they live in large, small or remote communities, share in the benefits of infrastructure investments.
Through the fund, the Governments of Canada and Alberta invest in local infrastructure projects. These projects are vital to sustaining strong economic growth and quality of life in Canadian communities.
Under the initial CAMRIF Agreement signed in June 2006, the federal and provincial governments each committed $88 million to the fund, with participating local governments expected to make up the remaining costs.
This year, the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta have each provided an additional $19 million to the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs.
The total amount available from the CAMRIF, with federal and provincial investment and matching local government contribution in projects, is $321 million.
CAMRIF is implemented by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, and is administered by a joint secretariat.
Program Priorities
A minimum of 55 per cent of funding under CAMRIF targets green infrastructure projects that contribute to community economic development and environmental quality of life. These include water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental energy improvements and public transit. The fund also invests in recreational infrastructure, tourism and cultural projects, local roads and broadband connectivity.
At least 80 per cent of CAMRIF funding is dedicated to rural municipalities with a population of less than 250,000. The remaining 20 per cent is available to urban municipalities with a population greater than 250,000.
A total of $724,584 is also available to municipalities for Municipal Capacity Building (MCB) projects. Projects may include, but is not limited to, the acquisition of infrastructure planning software, training to use that software, planning studies to determine the inventory and condition of infrastructure assets in the municipality or the development of a demand asset management system.
Local input and collaboration
CAMRIF is managed by a six member Management Committee consisting of two federal representatives, two provincial representatives, and two members representing Alberta's municipal associations-the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties. The Management Committee develops the Management Committee guidelines and oversees the project review and selection process. Projects are selected on a competitive basis from applications received from Alberta communities. The deadline to submit applications for the second intake was May 31, 2007.
Environmental Assessment
CAMRIF projects are required to successfully complete applicable environmental assessment processes, and funding is conditional on compliance with all applicable federal and provincial requirements.
For more information
Contact the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Joint Secretariat by phone (toll free) at 1-800-396-0214, by e-mail at camrif@gov.ab.ca or visit the website http://www.camrif.ca/.
Information about Government of Canada and Alberta's infrastructure programs is available at http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ and http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/.
