Government Partnership Supports Stormwater Treatment Improvements

100 Mile House, British Columbia, October 16, 2009 – A recently completed stormwater system will remove up to 85% of the stormwater pollutants released into Little Bridge Creek. The project received $875,000 in combined federal and provincial funding.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is investing in infrastructure that will create jobs and provide economic growth to our community,” said Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. “These stormwater treatment improvements will protect our waters while improving the health and safety of 100 Mile House residents.”

“Preserving B.C.'s natural resources like Little Bridge Creek is a priority for the Province,” said Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett on behalf of B.C. Minister of Community and Rural Development Bill Bennett. “Supporting projects like this ensures the continued health of our environment while we meet the needs of growing communities.”

“This project is an important facet to the District's ongoing storm water management plan,” said Mayor Mitch Campsall. “Without the valued assistance of our provincial and federal funding partners, projects of this nature simply would not be viable for smaller communities. We really appreciate and look forward to this ongoing relationship as the District continues to address its infrastructure needs in the years to come.”

“Clean water is essential for the long-term sustainability of B.C. communities,” said Harry Nyce, President of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). “By providing a long-term funding commitment, the federal and provincial governments are encouraging ambitious projects like the Little Bridge Creek stormwater project.”

The system will capture stormwater from streets in the 100 Mile House area and from a portion of Highway 97 adjacent to the project.

The project was originally awarded up to $664,700 through the BC Community Water Improvement Program (of which $575,000 was used for the project), $200,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund and $100,000 from the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The new system has been implemented as part of 100 Mile House's stormwater management plan.

The Gas Tax Fund is an agreement between Canada, British Columbia and the UBCM that delivers infrastructure funding to local governments for capital projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Government of Canada extended the Gas Tax Fund to 2014 to provide a total of $1.6 billion in funding for local infrastructure in British Columbia. UBCM administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C. in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.

For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Please visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.civicnet.bc.ca for background information on the Canada – BC – UBCM Gas Tax Agreement.

For more information:

Office of Cathy McLeod
Member of Parliament for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo
250-851-4991

Public Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Community and Rural Development
250-387-4089

Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
Union of B.C. Municipalities
250-356-2938

Phil Strain
100 Mile House
250-706-9606

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148