Canada’s New Government and the Province of British Columbia are jointly investing $1 million in upgrades to Vanderhoof’s drinking water system through the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF). The announcement was made today by Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, and John Rustad, MLA for Prince George-Omineca.

“Canada’s New Government is working in partnership to build sustainable infrastructure that supports a cleaner and healthier environment for local residents,” said MP Harris, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “This joint investment of $1 million for improvements to the water treatment facility within the Bulkley-Nechako Regional Districtwill enable residents to access clean potable drinking water.”

The funding will allow the District of Vanderhoof to enhance its water supply and treatment system, including the installation of chlorination and filtration systems, new pumps, backup power and a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA). This project is conditionally approved pending the completion of an environmental assessment.

“Our government is committed to ensuring residents have access to safe and healthy drinking water; that is why we are funding sustainable infrastructure projects like this,” said Rustad. “Through our partnership with the federal and local governments, more than 2000 residents will benefit from improved drinking water.”

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 the Province of B.C. have each provided an additional $23.5 million to the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their commitment 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 over
$220 million.

The majority of CBCMRIF funding is targeted towards communities of fewer than 250,000 people and at least 60 per cent 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 funds will be dedicated to other projects like tourism, recreation and other infrastructure.

More details on the program are available through the Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund website, at http://www.canadabcmrif.ca/.

Note: This web version of the news release was amended, after its release October 11th, for accuracy.  "Thompson-Nicola Regional District" was changed to "Bulkley-Nechako Regional District" to reflect the correct riding.

For additional information, contact:

Karl Yeh
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-4714

Marc Black
B.C. Ministry of Community Services
(250) 356-6334