Mission and area residents will benefit from improved drinking water and a healthier community thanks to a joint investment of more than $3.6 million from Canada’s New Government and the Province of British Columbia, announced today by, Randy Kamp, MP for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission, and Randy Hawes, MLA for Mission – Maple Ridge, announced today.

“This new system will increase the District of Mission’s capacity to treat wastewater, protect the surrounding environment and eliminate potential health risks,” said Mr. Kamp 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 is an excellent example of Canada’s New Government working in partnership with the provincial government to build healthier and more prosperous communities in British Columbia.”

This project involves the construction of a leachate collection and treatment system at the District’s Minnie’s Pit Landfill.  This will prevent contamination that could impact the environment and drinking water sources in the vicinity.  This project is conditionally approved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

“It is essential that B.C. communities have safe and clean drinking water; that is why our government is committed to investing in environmentally sustainable infrastructure,” said MLA Hawes. “This funding will build on the reliability of Mission’s drinking water system, providing residents with significant environmental and community benefits, now and in the future.”

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 the 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/.

For additional information, contact:

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

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