December 18, 2007
Municipal District of Provost, Alberta
The federal and provincial governments will invest over $1.5 million to upgrade roads in the Municipal District of Provost and enable the Villages of Marwayne and Dewberry to develop more cost-effective infrastructure renewal plans.
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 Jack Hayden, Member of Legislative Assembly for Drumheller-Stettler, announced the funding through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
"Today's joint investment of over $1.5 million will help ensure safer and more efficient roads for drivers in the Municipal District of Provost and allow the Villages of Marwayne and Dewberry to better address their infrastructure needs," said MP Benoit. "The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the Province of Alberta to ensure our communities remain safe and productive places to live, work and raise families."
The access roads to both Capt Ayre Lake and Shorncliffe Lake in the Municipal District of Provost will be paved to accommodate current traffic levels and increase driver safety for residents and visitors. The municipality is also expected to benefit from improved dust control, cost savings and a decrease in the response time of emergency vehicles.
A Municipal Capacity Building project will enable the Villages of Marwayne and Dewberry to more accurately collect information on their water, sewer and road infrastructure. The improved data knowledge is expected to result in more cost-effective infrastructure renewal plans that will allow the villages to make better investment decisions.
"Paving these important access roads is another example of our commitment to improving Alberta's highways, and helping Marwayne and Dewberry to update their infrastructure data bases will ensure solid planning for the future," said Hayden. "Upgrading highways and supporting infrastructure renewal reflects Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to secure Alberta's future by building communities, greening our growth and creating opportunity."
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 CAMRIF as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. The total amount available from the Fund, 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.
For more information, contact:
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 CAMRIF.
Municipal District of Provost No. 52
Capt Ayre Lake and Shorncliffe Lake Access Roads Project
Combined federal/provincial investment: $1,473,332 (pending environmental assessment)
This project, in the Municipal District of Provost, will pave the access roads to both Shorncliffe Lake and Capt Ayre Lake. Occupants of more than 1,200 cars per day currently travel on these roads and will benefit from the upgraded roads. The existing roads, which are narrow with an oiled surface, are extremely rough and pose a safety concern. They are inadequate to handle the present traffic levels, including the trailers and motor homes that frequent the lakes. The Capt Ayre Lake access road also provides access to numerous oil wells and batteries to the south.
Village of Marwayne
Marwayne and Dewberry's Renewal Plans
Combined federal/provincial investment: $80,000
This Municipal Capacity Building project will support the Villages of Marwayne and Dewberry to move towards sustainable asset management. With the accurate data knowledge of water, sewer and road asset values and conditions, the villages will be able to evaluate the investment required over the next 10-20 years and develop cost-effective infrastructure renewal plans.
Fact Sheet
Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)
Partnership Program
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 CAMRIF as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs.
The total amount available from 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 projects. Projects may include, but are not limited to: acquiring infrastructure planning software, providing training to use this software, conducting planning studies to determine the inventory and condition of infrastructure assets in the municipality or developing 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 CAMRIF 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/.
