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Residents in Wetaskiwin now have access to clean drinking water

February 23, 2007
Wetaskiwin, Alberta

Residents of the County of Wetaskiwin will benefit from a municipal infrastructure project that will provide drinking water directly to households and eliminate the need for residents to haul their water individually by truck.

The new water system in the Hamlet of Gwynne will allow the community’s  households to connect to water supplied by the City of Wetaskiwin Water Treatment Plant.  The project will also enable residential expansion and sustained growth in the Hamlet.  The County of Wetaskiwin will benefit from reduced long-term infrastructure costs by eliminating the need to truck-haul water along County roads.

Through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF), the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $223,833 to the project.

Blaine Calkins, member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and LeRoy Johnson, MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose, on behalf of the Honourable Luke Ouellette, Minister of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, made the joint announcement today.

Canada’s New Government is getting things done for the people in the County of Wetaskiwin,” said MP Calkins.  “Today’s investment of $447,666 will improve the quality of life for residents and ensure they have access to clean drinking water at all times.

Johnson said managing growth pressures is one of Premier Ed Stelmach’s five priorities. “With the turn of a tap, people living in Gwynne will be able to access the same safe, reliable water supply enjoyed by those living in Wetaskiwin,” said Johnson.

The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a joint initiative between the Governments of Canada and Alberta that enables communities to address local infrastructure needs.  Over the course of CAMRIF, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $88 million in funding for municipal infrastructure renewal. 

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.  Projects are selected on a competitive basis from applications received from Alberta communities.

For additional information, contact:

Donna Kinley
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892

Jerry Bellikka
Communications Director
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 415-1841

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WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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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).

County of Wetaskiwin No. 10

Gwynne Water Project
Combined federal / provincial investment: $447,666 (pending environmental assessment)

This project will provide drinking water directly to the residents of Gwynne by installing a distribution line, which allows individual residents to connect to water supplied by the City of Wetaskiwin Water Treatment Plant. This new water distribution system will eliminate the need for Gwynne residents to haul their water individually by truck, a method that is less safe and far less convenient for the citizens of Gwynne.

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.
  • The federal-provincial CAMRIF Agreement provides $88 million each in federal and provincial funding for municipal infrastructure renewal, reflecting shared federal and provincial priorities.  With matching one-third contributions from municipalities, total program funding will be at least $264 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 $1,760,000 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 first intake was July 31, 2006.
  • Applications for the second intake will be accepted in Spring 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.

How to apply


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