December 20, 2007
Grande Prairie, Alberta
The federal and provincial governments will jointly invest more than $5.5 million to expand the City of Grande Prairie's water system.
Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Peace River, 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 Mel Knight, Minister of Energy and MLA for Grande Prairie - Smoky, announced the funding through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
"Today's infrastructure investment means clean drinking water and improved fire safety for the residents of Grande Prairie and surrounding areas," said MP Chris Warkentin. "The Government of Canada is proud to work in partnership with the Province of Alberta to ensure our communities remain safe and productive places to live, work and raise families."
The expansion will strengthen the City of Grande Prairie's water system and increase storage capacity to meet fire protection standards. A sustainable supply of water will also enable the continued growth and development of the North-Central areas of the city and surrounding communities. More than 7,600 homes will benefit from enhanced water service and improved fire protection.
"Increasing the capacity of Grande Prairie's water system will help support growth and make our community a safer place to live," said Minister Knight. These improvements reflect Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to secure Alberta's future by building communities, greening our growth and creating opportunity," said Knight.
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: (708) 495-6892Cell: (780) 991-7432
Jerry BellikkaDirector of CommunicationsAlberta Infrastructure and Transportation(780) 415-1841
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 project is receiving funding under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
City of Grande Prairie
Zone III Transmission Line & Reservoir ExpansionCombined federal/provincial investment: $5,516,666 (pending environmental assessment)
This green project involves the extension of a transmission line and expansion of the reservoir at a pump house. The project will ensure a sustainable supply of water for the regional water system and provide for continued growth and development in the North-Central area of the City of Grande Prairie and the regional service area, which includes the County of Grande Prairie and the Town of Sexsmith. The transmission line will meet projected water flow requirements until 2014 and the reservoir expansion until 2015.
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/.
