The federal and provincial governments will support the construction of a new library in the Town of Slave Lake and road safety improvements in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray-Athabasca and Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, 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 Pearl Calahasen, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lesser Slave Lake, today announced the funding of almost $1.6 million through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
"These infrastructure investments will provide Slave Lake residents with greater access to library resources and services, and improve traffic safety in Wood Buffalo," said MP Brian Jean. "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 project for the Town of Slave Lake involves the construction of a new regional library that will have enhanced programs, larger circulation areas for visitors, and services for all age groups. The library will be centrally located in the town and is expected to see an increase in visitors to approximately 50,000 from 37,500.
The project for the RM of Wood Buffalo will upgrade the community's traffic signals and pedestrian crossings. The project will replace all incandescent lamps used in the traffic signals with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and upgrade pedestrian crossings to the latest standard.
"Improved quality of life and traffic safety will be the results of these investments for the communities of Slave Lake and Wood Buffalo," said MLA Pearl Calahasen. "Slave Lake's new regional library will serve as a vibrant cultural centre for the whole area."
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. In April 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta 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 Kinley
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892
Cell: (780) 991-7432
Jerry Bellikka
Director of Communications
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
Edmonton, Alberta
(780) 415-1841
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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The following project is receiving funding under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).
Town of Slave Lake
Slave Lake Municipal Library
Combined federal/provincial investment: $1,266,666 (pending environmental assessment)
The project will assist with the construction of a new regional library building to serve the residents of Slave Lake and the surrounding area. The library will be constructed as part of a larger municipal and provincial office building located on the site of a former shopping mall. The 6,000 square feet library will meet Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and will include expanded free Internet access, new audio/visual space, a new art gallery wall, multicultural heritage space and an outdoor special event area.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
RM of Wood Buffalo traffic lights
Combined federal/provincial investment: $333,332 (pending environmental assessment)
This project will replace all incandescent lamps used in the traffic signals with light emitting diodes (LEDs). The project will also include upgrading pedestrian crossings to the latest standard, including a countdown display for pedestrian crossings. Traffic signals that are illuminated by LEDs are brighter, last longer, require less electrical energy to power them, and simplify inventory control.
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.
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