Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, April 3, 2013– The Village of Harrison Hot Springs will soon benefit from upgrades to its water system and will be able to begin a water utility master plan thanks to a contribution of more than $1.2 million from the Government of Canada through the Gas Tax Fund transfer.
"Our government is proud to support these upgrades to Harrison Hot Springs' water system which will ensure safe, clean drinking water for the residents and strengthen the local economy,"
said the MP for Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, Mark Strahl. "Investments in Canada's public infrastructure create jobs and economic growth, while improving the quality of life for families in every city and community across the country."
Part of the funding will be used to construct a new water treatment plant and upgrade the water intake process. It will also be used to strengthen the water infrastructure in place and improve the overall standards of the Village's water system. The project is also designed to meet the required objectives in the Canadian Water Guidelines, as well as the Fraser Health Authority treatment objectives.
The project will receive $1.1 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund transfer and the remainder from the Village of Harrison Hot Springs.
The Village will also receive an additional $55,636 from the Gas Tax Fund transfer to undertake a water utility master plan that will establish the guiding principles for an integrated water utility structure to serve its current and future needs.
"I would like to thank the federal government for their generous funding contributions to make this project possible,"
said the Mayor of Harrison Hot Springs, Leo Facio. "It is Council's ongoing commitment for long term sustainability to its infrastructure."
"Water quality is a bread and butter issue for communities,"
said Union of British Columbia Municipalities President Mary Sjostrom. "The federal Gas Tax Fund is playing an important role in improving water systems throughout British Columbia."
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented investments in infrastructure. 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 British Columbia, 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.
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Leo Facio
Major
Village of Harrison Hot Springs
604-796-2171
Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
