100% of project costs provided by Canada's Gas Tax Fund
Fruitvale, British Columbia, February 3, 2012 – Residents of the Village of Fruitvale will see significant upgrades to the community's Wastewater Treatment Plant thanks to funding provided through Canada's Gas Tax Fund.
"Our Government is proud to deliver permanent annual infrastructure funding for municipalities through Canada's Gas Tax Fund,"
said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Senior Minister Responsible for British Columbia. "Investing in local infrastructure creates local jobs and economic growth, and I am pleased that these upgrades to Fruitvale's wastewater treatment plant will help to achieve a cleaner environment."
The engineering project will improve water quality for residents who use the creek for recreation, tourism, and agriculture. In addition, these upgrades will improve energy efficiency and reduce impact on the environment.
"The Village is extremely appreciative of this funding which will allow us to provide better operational service as well as to protect our environment, specifically our creek system,"
said Patricia Cecchini, Mayor of Fruitvale. "One of our Official Community Plan goals is to ensure that utilities are provided in an efficient, economic and environmentally sensitive manner."
"This is a practical application of Gas Tax Funds to upgrade the sewage treatment plant,"
said Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "Projects such as these help communities to keep pace with their infrastructure needs in a manner that also considers the health of the environment."
The Government of Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund, provided $610,000 toward upgrades to Fruitvale's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding to local governments and other organizations to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. This Infrastructure Canada program primarily supports capital projects such as local roads, public transit, energy systems and waste management infrastructure that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia. On December 15, 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment.
"The cost of upgrading water and wastewater systems is a real challenge in communities with a small property tax base,"
said Heath Slee, President of UBCM. "UBCM appreciates the support the Gas Tax Fund provides to improve to the core infrastructure in BC communities."
For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information:
Pierre Floréa
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-208-4028
Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938
Lila Cresswell
Chief Administrative Officer
Village of Fruitvale
250-367-7551
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
