Salmon Arm, British Columbia, February 21, 2013 – Residents of Anglemont will soon see the end of one of the longest standing boil water advisories in British Columbia thanks to Government of Canada funding. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District will receive $3 million from the Gas Tax Fund transfer to upgrade the Anglemont water system.
"Our Government is proud to support this important initiative to ensure that residents of Anglemont have a clean and reliable source of drinking water for years to come,"
said Colin Mayes, MP for Okanagan—Shuswap. "Investing in clean water infrastructure is an investment in the health, safety and long-term prosperity of our communities. The construction work will also create good local jobs."
The total cost of the project is $9.8 million. The remainder of the funding, which amounts to $6.8 million, will be provided through approved borrowing by the property owners in the service area. The upgrades will provide a new water source and treatment plant, install 10 new pressure reducing stations, and replace a substantial portion of the distribution system.
"The folks at UBCM and the Province recognize the forward thinking of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District in adopting its Water System Acquisition Strategy, and the policies of the Strategy that provide a community such as Anglemont an option to be owned and operated by the Regional District,"
said Larry Morgan, North Shuswap Director. "This $3 million in federal funding is a great boost for the residents in Anglemont and will help the Regional District achieve a key priority."
"Enhancing water quality in our communities through system upgrades is an important part of protecting the health of British Columbians,"
said Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "This Gas Tax grant to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to improve water services is great news and will be instrumental in ensuring the safety of the water for residents in Anglemont."
"This project demonstrates why we need programs like the Gas Tax Fund,"
said Mary Sjostrom, Union of British Columbia Municipalities President. "Property tax payers in smaller communities face steep costs to upgrade water systems to current standards. I am very pleased to see federal funds supporting upgrades to water systems in BC."
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented investments in infrastructure. Through the Gas Tax Fund alone, municipalities across the country have received over $10 billion in transfers for local priority initiatives. Making this fund permanent at $2 billion annually was part of Canada's Economic Action Plan – a plan to help create good jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity.
Between 2006 and 2014, British Columbia will receive more than $1.56 billion from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia, in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's web site.
To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to promote jobs, growth and prosperity, visit Canada's Economic Action Planweb site.
Genevieve Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Terry Langlois
Water Services Coordinator
Columbia Shuswap Regional District
250-833-5941
Matt Gordon
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-953-3677
Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
