Canada’s New Government and the Province of British Columbia are investing more than $1.1 million to improve access to safe, clean drinking water in Alexis Creek. The announcement was made today by Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, and John Rustad, MLA for Prince George-Omineca.

“Canada’s New Government is working in partnership, through the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, to build a healthier and more prosperous community in Alexis Creek,” said Mr. Harris 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 joint investment of more than $1.1 million will provide the community of Alexis Creek with better access to clean drinking water and prevent future boil water advisories.”

The Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF) grant will allow the Cariboo Regional District to create a unified drinking water system for Alexis Creek. The project involves the installation of a distribution main, a pressure system, controls, and development of a new well. This project is conditionally approved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

“Our government is committed to providing sustainable infrastructure that benefits our communities and our environment,” said Rustad. “We are pleased to partner with the federal government and the regional district to make this improvement, helping to end two long term boil water advisories and ensuring Alexis Creek residents have a safe and reliable supply of drinking water.”

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