December 17, 2007
Pritchard, British Columbia
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District will receive more than $156,000 from the federal and provincial governments towards sewage treatment plant upgrades in the community of Pritchard. Betty Hinton, MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, and Kevin Krueger, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson and Minister of State for Mining, announced the funding today through the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF).
"These upgrades to Pritchard's wastewater treatment centre will improve water quality and protect the health of area residents," said MP Hinton 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. "Through infrastructure investments such as this, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with the Province of British Columbia to build healthy, sustainable communities."The funding will enable the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to upgrade Pritchard's sewage treatment plant, improve wastewater quality and ultimately lift a boil water advisory from their drinking water system. This project is conditionally approved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.
"Through projects like this, we're taking another important step toward B.C.'s goal of leading the world in sustainable environmental management," said Krueger. "We are pleased to partner with the federal government and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to make this enhancement for area residents."
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, the Government of Canada 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 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 http://www.canadabcmrif.ca/.
Media Contacts:
Karl YehWestern Economic Diversification Canada604 666-4714
Marc BlackB.C. Ministry of Community Services250 356-6334
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
