North Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, March 27, 2013 – Residents in North Vancouver will soon benefit from an innovative energy system thanks to a $632,000 contribution from the Government of Canada through the Gas Tax Fund transfer.
"Investments in Canada's public infrastructure create jobs, economic growth and provide a high quality of life for families in every city and community across the country,"
said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia. "With the new Building Canada Plan, our Government is delivering the largest investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history. This green energy infrastructure project that we are announcing today will have a significant economic impact here in the District of North Vancouver."
"This new energy system at the Karen Magnussen Recreation Centre will help meet our community's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,"
said Andrew Saxton, MP for North Vancouver, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. "It is a good example of how our government is investing in sustainable energy sources that help to meet our energy needs while protecting the environment."
A new energy system that converts wood waste to gas will be implemented at the Karen Magnussen Recreation Centre. The new system will heat the centre's swimming pool and also be connected to the electrical grid to help generate electricity for the local community. This innovative heating system will meet the community's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This project will serve as a pilot that has a potential for a larger-scale implementation at other strategic locations within the North Vancouver District.
"The District of North Vancouver is serious about reducing its reliance on fossil fuels,"
declared Richard Walton, Mayor of the District of North Vancouver. "This pilot project will illustrate clearly the benevolent use of a renewable fuel source. As swimming pools are traditionally one of the highest consumers of natural gas in buildings under municipal control, it makes sense to begin here. This highly replicable model should save money while reducing waste and lowering our carbon footprint."
"Sustainable infrastructure is key to British Columbians' quality of life and the vitality of our communities – projects which the Gas Tax Fund is helping to make a reality in B.C.,"
said Jane Thornthwaite, MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour. "This energy system in North Vancouver is an impressive pilot project that is an excellent illustration of how to serve a community's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
"Converting wood waste to fuel is energy efficient and reduces greenhouse gases,"
said Union of BC Municipalities President Mary Sjostrom. "The Gas Tax Fund is making it possible for local governments to implement innovative solutions that drive down operational costs and benefit the environment."
The Gas Tax Fund provides long-term funding to help every municipality across the country build and revitalize public infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this Fund alone, which is now a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year.
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 BC, in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a new Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 950,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The new Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to promote jobs, growth and prosperity, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
For more information:
Brayden Akers
Office of the Minister of State (Transport)
613-991-0700
Stephanie Smiley
Communications Coordinator
District of North Vancouver
604-990-2284
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
Backgrounder
New Building Canada Plan 2013
Investments in Canada's public infrastructure create jobs, economic growth and provide a high quality of life for families in every city and community across the country.
Since 2006, our Government has made unprecedented investments in over 43,000 projects to build roads, bridges, commuter rail and other important public infrastructure.
As a result of our investments, we have brought the average age of Canada's core public infrastructure down from a peak of 17 years in 2001 to an estimated 14.4 years in 2011. It is now lower than the historical average over the last 50 years.
Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on our investments and announces a new Building Canada plan – the largest investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.
The new Building Canada plan has three main components:
- Community Improvement Fund - $32.2 billion consisting of an indexed Gas Tax Fund and the increased GSTRebate for Municipalities to build roads, public transit, recreational facilities and other community infrastructure across Canada that will improve the quality of life of Canadian families.
- New Building Canada Fund - $14 billion to support infrastructure projects of national, regional and local significance.
- Renewed P3 Canada Fund - $1.25 billion to continue finding innovative ways to build infrastructure projects faster and provide better value for Canadian taxpayers through public-private partnerships.
In addition, $6 billion in federal support will be provided to provinces, territories and municipalities under current infrastructure programs in 2014-15 and beyond.
Over the next 10 years, the Government will also make significant investments in First Nations infrastructure and in federal assets.
- Approximately $7 billion over 10 years in First Nations infrastructure such as roads, bridges, energy systems and other First Nations infrastructure priorities.
- Over $10 billion in investments in federal infrastructure assets, including bridges, fishing harbours, ports, military bases and departmental accommodations across the country.
Overall, the new Building Canada plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments will result in $70 billion in federal infrastructure funding over 10 years, the largest federal investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.
The Government of Canada delivers funding for Metro Vancouver
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.88 billion in infrastructure funding for the Metro Vancouver Area. Here are some examples:
- Vancouver: Construction of Evergreen Transit ($350M)
- Vancouver: Downtown Eastside Housing Renewal Project (up to $29.1M - P3project)
- Langley: 202ndStreet Park and Ride ($15.16M)
- Burnaby: Water Infrastructure Replacement Program ($2.5M)
- Coquitlam: Lincoln Station Project, an additional transit station for the Evergreen Line (up to $7M – P3project)
- Surrey/Delta: Highway 99 Rapid Bus - King George Highway to Highway 91 ($6.5M)
- Lions Bay: Lower Lions Bay Water Line Replacement ($291,666)
- Maple Ridge: Sewer Extension ($3M)
- New Westminster: Westminster Pier Park ($8.3M)
- North Vancouver: Artificial turf sports field ($1.07M)
- Pitt Meadows: Highway 7 Rapid Bus Lane ($8M)
- Port Coquitlam: Broadway Street reconstruction ($3.8M)
- Richmond: Nelson Road Interchange Project ($6.36M)
- Surrey: Construction of the City Centre Library ($10M)
- Tsawwassen: Industrial Lands Site Servicing Project - Phase 1 ($3.01M)
- District of West Vancouver: Artificial Turf Field ($1.5M)
- White Rock: Centre for Active Living Facility ($1.08M)
- Upgrades to the Metro Vancouver West Coast Express ($9.02M)
- Anmore: Water system renewal and upgrades ($178,428)
- Bowen Island: Snug Cove sewer treatment facility expansion ($584,059)
All told, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented infrastructure investments across the country since 2006. Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on these investments and announces a new Building Canada plan – the largest investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.
