Chilliwack, British Columbia – The federal and provincial governments will invest $2 million in a new arterial road in Chilliwack to ease vehicle congestion and reduce greenhouse gases. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and John Les, MLA for Chilliwack-Sumas, announced the contribution under the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF) today.

“Construction of the Evans Road Connector will benefit the community by reducing travel times, congestion and idling times associated with greenhouse gas emissions. It will also improve Chilliwack’s pedestrian and bicycle network, transit service, emergency response times and overall commuter safety,” said Minister Strahl, 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. “The Government of Canada is working with the Province of British Columbia to build healthy, safe and prosperous communities in British Columbia.”

The funding enables the City of Chilliwack to build a 1.2 km arterial road that connects the Evans Parkway with Ashwell Road, providing an alternative north-south route to relieve congestion. This project is conditionally approved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

“Easing congestion and increasing the safety of our roadways is so important for the people of Chilliwack,” said Les. “This joint funding initiative helps make it easier for people to move around.”

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, the Government of Canada 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 www.th.gov.bc.ca/CBMRIF/index.htm.

For additional information, contact:

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

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