Canada Grants Town $7.4 Million for Cleanup Projects

Canada's federal government will grant $7.4 million from its gas tax fund to View Royal, B.C., today, allowing the town to clean up storm water discharge and initiate road improvement projects.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn is scheduled to join provincial and municipal leaders in making the grant announcement in View Royal this morning.

A new report released by the Capital Region District (CRD) said public health concerns surrounding storm water discharge (i.e. oils, fuel byproducts, heavy metals) is at a 10-year high. The CRD has established a number of discharge bylaws in recent years; they restrict what businesses such as drycleaners and car washes can dump into storm sewers so as to protect the health of human and marine life.

Local governments will use the gas tax fund dollars, provided for projects that reduce greenhouse gases and air and water pollution, to begin the one-year cleanup project in 2008.

View Royal will implement bioretention devises such as bioswale systems and rain gardens to execute the cleanup. These devices are expected to reduce most storm water pollutants, including up to 95 percent of heavy metals, before they can reach the Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet. A second project, intended to reduce greenhouse gases, involves road work along the Island Highway between Shoreline Middle School and Helmcken Road.

B.C. MLA Ida Chhong, minister for community services, has shepharded some of the infrastructure projects along. "View Royal is meeting the challenge of creating a sustainable community and reducing greenhouse gas emissions head-on," Chong said.

Source: Times Colonist