(Mark with Councillor Kevin Anderson of the District of Lillloet)
Lillooet, British Columbia – The District of Lillooet will receive close to $5.6 million through Canada's Gas Tax Fund to establish a new water source for the community.
"Our Government is proud to deliver permanent annual infrastructure funding for municipalities through Canada's Gas Tax Fund," said Mark Strahl, MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "We recognize the importance of safe, clean and reliable drinking water, and I am pleased that the Gas Tax Fund is supporting this project to enhance water quality in Lillooet."
This project will complete work to bring Lillooet's water treatment facilities up to current provincial standards. In order to protect the water supply from forest fire contamination from the mountains around the community, a water supply intake from the BC Hydro canal will be developed. As well, a filtration treatment plant will be built, contributing to safe, clean drinking water.
Canada's Gas Tax Fund also contributed $4.5 million toward Phase 1 of the project, bringing the federal investments to enhance Lillooet's water system to over $10 million. Phase 1 work included the construction of new wells at Seton Fan, a high lift pumping and UV treatment station, a water supply main, and the installation of water meters for all properties in the municipality.
"A year-round, reliable, clean source of drinking water is absolutely vital to the viable future of any community," said Wendy Parker, Acting Mayor of Lillooet. "Understanding this, the District of Lillooet has taken action to ensure that our community will have access to the highest quality of water to support our present use and our unlimited potential for growth in the future."
"Water treatment which meets current standards is absolutely key to the well-being of a community," said Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "The District should be commended for putting Gas Tax funding towards infrastructure that will support the water needs of area families now and into the future."
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding to local governments and other organizations to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. This Infrastructure Canada program primarily supports capital projects such as local roads, public transit, energy systems and waste management infrastructure that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in BC in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia. On December 15, 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion.
"Upgrades to core facilities like water systems are a challenge to fund through property taxes or user fees alone," said Heath Slee, President of UBCM. "UBCM appreciates the support the Gas Tax Fund is providing to support this improvement to Lillooet's water system."
For further information on the Government of Canada's infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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