Bittern Lake, Alberta, July 4, 2013 – The Village of Bittern Lake is benefitting from improvements to its local drinking water distribution system thanks to Government of Canada funding through the Gas Tax Fund transfer, and municipal grant funding from the Government of Alberta.
"Our government's top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,"
said Kevin Sorenson, Member of Parliament for Crowfoot, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Communities, Minister of the Canada Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "Our government is proud to have supported these upgrades so that the residents of Bittern Lake can continue to count on a safe, clean drinking water supply. We are proud to invest in infrastructure projects like this one, as our government focuses on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada."
"Our government is committed to building Alberta and investing in families and communities by supporting local infrastructure projects, such as the Bittern Lake pump house,"
said Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation. "A dependable, quality water system is critical to the success of Bittern Lake and the health of its residents."
"We, at the Village of Bittern Lake are pleased to see this project to completion. It has taken several years of dedication on behalf of council and staff to make these improvements a reality,"
said Ken Feth, Mayor of Bittern Lake. "The infrastructure upgrades will continue to support the Village's ongoing commitment to sustainability, which is especially important for smaller communities. We are very grateful for the progressive thinking of past councils that were instrumental in building the foundation for the continued success of the Village. Many thanks to the federal and provincial governments for the funding to support this legacy."
Various upgrades to the village's pump house were made, including the replacement of corroded steel pipes, existing air release valves and portions of the distribution system. The monitoring and alarm systems were also upgraded. This work will extend the life of the water distribution system and help ensure that residents continue to receive clean drinking water. These upgrades will also prepare the system for an expected population growth in the coming years.
Bittern Lake used close to $120,000 of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfer for the project, while the Government of Alberta contributed close to $403,000 from the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program (AMIP) and Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI). The total cost of the project is close to $524,000.
The federal Gas Tax Fund transfer provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this program, and passed legislation to make it a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. In Alberta, the program currently provides over $199.5 million of predictable, long-term funding annually to help municipalities build and revitalize public infrastructure. As part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to index the Gas Tax Fund to provide additional funding for communities, starting in 2014.
The Government of Alberta is investing in families and communities, to serve a growing population today and for generations to come. Provincial programs like Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program and the Municipal Sustainability Initiative allow municipalities the ability to plan for the future with significant long-term funding to address local infrastructure priorities. Eligible projects include municipal roads, bridges, public transit vehicles and facilities, water and wastewater systems and facilities, storm drainage systems and facilities, emergency service vehicles and facilities and more.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
To learn more about municipal grants from the Government of Alberta, see the Municipal Affairs and Transportation websites.
Marie-Josée Paquette (disponible en français)
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
Tina Stewart
Communications
Alberta Transportation
780-422-7046
tina.r.stewart@gov.ab.ca
@ABTransComm
Theresa Fuller
Chief Administrative Officer
Village of Bittern Lake
780-672-7373
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
