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St. Albert receives $6 million from the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta to redevelop Riel Recreation Park

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Backgrounder

Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)

The following project is receiving funding under the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF).

City of St. Albert

Riel Recreation Park

Combined federal/provincial investment: $6,000,000 (pending environmental assessment)

The City of St. Albert currently does not have a multi-purpose facility that would accommodate local recreational programs and activities such as games organized by the St. Albert Minor and High School Football teams. For over 20 years, the St. Albert Minor and High School Football teams have been playing their home games in other venues around the Capital Region. This has resulted in the teams commuting to Edmonton annually at an average of 50 kms per round trip for these football tournaments. At completion of the project, the facility will become the permanent home for the St. Albert Minor and High School Football teams. This will result in a reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions by reducing the need for travel.

The redevelopment of the Riel Recreation Park will provide the residents of St. Albert and neighbouring communities with a multi-purpose facility that would host local recreational activities. The recreation park will provide the community with the opportunity for recreation, fitness, relaxation and personal development. The facility is located in a safe area and is easily accessible to all the residents.  The project is expected to result in an annual increase of 100,000 users and will house a variety of recreational programs that will help the community stay active all year round.

Fact Sheet

Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF)

Partnership Program

• The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF) is designed to address local infrastructure needs in rural and urban Alberta. It ensures all Albertans, whether they live in large, small or remote communities, share in the benefits of infrastructure investments.
• Through the fund, the Governments of Canada and Alberta invest in local infrastructure projects. These projects are vital to sustaining strong economic growth and quality of life in Canadian communities.
• Under the initial CAMRIF Agreement signed in June 2006, the federal and provincial governments each committed $88 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 Alberta have each provided an additional $19 million to the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. 
• The total amount available from the CAMRIF, with federal and provincial investment and matching local government contribution in projects, is $321 million.
• CAMRIF is implemented by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, and is administered by a joint secretariat.

Program Priorities

• A minimum of 55 per cent of funding under CAMRIF targets green infrastructure projects that contribute to community economic development and environmental quality of life. These include water, wastewater, solid waste, environmental energy improvements and public transit.  The fund also invests in recreational infrastructure, tourism and cultural projects, local roads and broadband connectivity.
• At least 80 per cent of CAMRIF funding is dedicated to rural municipalities with a population of less than 250,000. The remaining 20 per cent is available to urban municipalities with a population greater than 250,000.
• A total of $724,584 is also available to municipalities for Municipal Capacity Building (MCB) projects.  Projects may include, but is not limited to, the acquisition of infrastructure planning software, training to use that software, planning studies to determine the inventory and condition of infrastructure assets in the municipality or the development of a demand asset management system.

Local input and collaboration

• CAMRIF is managed by a six member Management Committee consisting of two federal representatives, two provincial representatives, and two members representing Alberta’s municipal associations—the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties. The Management Committee develops the Management Committee guidelines and oversees the project review and selection process. Projects are selected on a competitive basis from applications received from Alberta communities. The deadline to submit applications for the second intake was May 31, 2007.

Environmental Assessment

• CAMRIF projects are required to successfully complete applicable environmental assessment processes, and funding is conditional on compliance with all applicable federal and provincial requirements.

For more information

• Contact the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Joint Secretariat by phone (toll free) at 1-800-396-0214, by e-mail at camrif@gov.ab.ca or visit the website http://www.camrif.ca/.
• Information about Government of Canada and Alberta’s infrastructure programs is available at http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ and http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/.

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