Communities in the Comox Valley Regional District to benefit from cleaner, more reliable drinking water Français
COMOX VALLEY, BC, Nov. 28, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and British Columbia recognize how important investing in modern reliable water services is to building healthy sustainable communities.
Today, Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, and Ronna Rae Leonard, Member of Legislative Assembly for Courtenay–Comox, on behalf of the Honourable Selina Robinson, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced more than $62.8 million in federal-provincial funding for a new drinking water treatment plant in the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD).
This project involves developing a new water treatment system to serve communities in the CVRD, including new intake infrastructure, pumping stations and pipelines, force mains and transmission mains, and a filtration facility with an educational space for the general public.
Once complete, the new infrastructure will reduce boil water advisories and provide clean safe drinking water to 45,000 residents in the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, six regional communities and the K'omoks First Nation.
Quotes
“Modern efficient water infrastructure is essential to safeguarding the well-being of our families and building the Canada we want for tomorrow. By investing in this crucial new water system in the CVRD, we are helping close the gaps in services to ensure everyone in the region has access to safe reliable drinking water for years to come.”
Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"People in the Comox area have been waiting for clean drinking water for too long. We're funding this project to support people's health, the local economy and the environment. Working with all levels of governments and Indigenous communities, our government is making smart investments in core services like clean drinking water for Comox area residents today, while helping build public infrastructure for the next generation."
Ronna Rae Leonard, Member of Legislative Assembly for Courtenay-Comox
"The generous funding committed today allows us to move forward with a new treatment system that will protect the health of our residents at a cost that is affordable for Comox Valley Water System users. The installation of temporary UV treatment will help to reduce the negative impact of boil water notices on our community as we await the construction of our new system. Thank you to our staff who have taken the initiative to implement this interim technology and who continue to work tirelessly to move this project forward."
Bob Wells, Chair of the Comox Valley Water Committee
Quick facts
- Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion across Canada over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- $26.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- The Government of Canada will invest $3.917 billion in B.C. infrastructure through the Plan.
- The Government of Canada is providing more than $34.3 million and the Government of B.C. is providing more than $28.6 million to this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan.
- The Comox Valley Regional District is contributing $54.9 million to the project and the K'ómoks First Nation, $7.4 million.
- Today's announcement marks the first project to be approved under the Green Infrastructure Stream in B.C., made possible through the signing of a new Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement signed earlier this year.
Associated links
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html
Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map
Federal infrastructure investments in British Columbia:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/bc-eng.html
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - B.C. program website:
www.gov.bc.ca/Investing-in-Canada-Infrastructure-Program
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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-697-3778, [email protected]; Lindsay Byers, Media Relations, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 250 952-0617, [email protected]; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]
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