BC Government: Communities to benefit from improved services, environmental infrastructure

Press Release

Oct. 8, 2021

VICTORIA – People in communities throughout British Columbia can look forward to better services and improved environmental infrastructure thanks to a $270-million partnership between the provincial and federal governments.

“Everyone in British Columbia deserves to have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, as well as the peace of mind knowing their communities are well equipped to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This federal, provincial and local government funding will ensure that communities can continue to build and maintain critical infrastructure that provides the services people count on and protects the environment well into the future.”

The Province is accepting applications from local governments and First Nations for the third intake of the Environmental Quality stream, available through the federal-provincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Funding supports communities to build the infrastructure they need for water, wastewater, and solid waste as well as soil and air pollution remediation services.

Many projects that received funding in the first two intakes are already or will soon be benefiting people in communities provincewide. Examples include:

• a new drinking-water treatment plant in the Comox Valley;
• upgrades to the wastewater-treatment facility in Stewart;
• a new water-treatment building in the Village of Burns Lake; and
• upgrades to Grand Forks’ stormwater system to help deal with flooding and improve stormwater management.

“This program delivers funding to upgrade and expand the infrastructure that is most foundational to B.C.’s communities,” said Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, president, Union of B.C. Municipalities. “Local governments welcome the opening of a new intake and appreciate the continuing support shown by the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada for the renewal of local infrastructure.”

The Province will contribute as much as $122.2 million toward the third intake of the Environmental Quality stream and the Government of Canada will contribute as much as $147.8 million.

Quick Facts:

• In 2018, the federal and provincial governments committed $238 million to the first intake of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program’s Environmental Quality stream. In 2019, $161 million was committed to the second intake.
• To date, 28 projects have been announced under the Environmental Quality stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
• Federal and provincial funding covers up to 73% of eligible project costs and up to 90% for off-reserve Indigenous projects. The remaining funding is the responsibility of the community.
• In total, the Province is investing $3.6 billion over 10 years under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for B.C.’s infrastructure initiatives.
• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Learn More:

Government of British Columbia’s infrastructure programs: www.gov.bc.ca/Investing-in-Canada-Infrastructure-Program

Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-bc-eng.html

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Investing in Canada plan funding stream – green infrastructure: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gi-iv-eng.html

Contact:

Melanie Kilpatrick
Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs
778 698-9176

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

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