Joint Funding to Improve Canadian Waters

Canada's New Government and the province of British Columbia (B.C.) will invest $483,330 in Williams Lake's storm water system to improve water quality in the Williams Lake RIver and protect the community's natural water systems. Dick Harris, member of parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, and John Rustad, member of the legislative assembly for Prince George-Omineca announced the joint funding today; it will come from the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF).

"This initiative will upgrade the community's storm water system, improving the quality of water and protecting the surrounding ecosystem," said Harris. "Through collaboration and partnership, Canada's New Government is building a healthier and more prosperous community in Williams Lake. This investment is a concrete example of our commitment to build and modernize Canada's infrastructure in communities."

The funding will allow the city of Williams Lake to upgrade its storm water system to ensure that rainwater is directed to an infiltration and retention basin for treatment. This project is conditionally appoved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

"Our government is committed to building green, healthy, sustainable communities and supporting sustainable infrastructure," Rustad said. "Through our partnership with the federal and local governments, the city of Williams Lake will be able to improve its water quality and safeguard a valuable fish habitat."

"This has been an important project for our community and region," said Mayor Scott Nelson. "It has been an environmental issue that we wanted to solve. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the provincial and federal governments as well as the hard work that the Cariboo Regional District has put into this successful application."

Under the initial CBCMRIF agreement, signed in June 2006, the federal and provincial governments each committed $51 million to the fund, with participating local governments expected to make up the remaining costs. This year, Canada's New Government and B.C. have each provided an additional $23.5 million to the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their committment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional funding brings the total federal and provincial investment and matching local government contribution in CBCMRIF projects to more than $220 million.

The majority of the CBCMRIF funding is targeted toward communities with less than 250,000 people, and at least 60 percent of the funding will assist with green projects, such as drinking water supply, treatment and distribution needs as well as wastewater and energy efficiency projects. The remaining money will be dedicated to other projects (i.e. tourism, recreation and other infrastructure).

For more information, visit www.canadabcmrif.ca.

Source: Western Economic Diversification Canada