The federal and provincial governments are contributing $100,000,000 to the Greater Vancouver Water District to build a water filtration plant at Seymour in North Vancouver under the $800-million Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program. The project's total eligible cost for program funding is $150,000,000.

"This project will create the largest water filtration plant in Canada and its proven technology will ensure residents in the Lower Mainland have a high standard of water quality," said Allan Rock, Minister of Industry. "This announcement builds on the more than $274,000,000 already invested in infrastructure through the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program,"

"This project is part of our New Era commitment to ensure safe drinking water for all British Columbians," said Rick Thorpe, Competition, Science and Enterprise Minister and provincial minister responsible for the infrastructure program. "This project shows that all levels of government can work together to protect the health of our communities. Today's announcement is another step towards achieving our goal to provide British Columbians with the most effective drinking water protection in Canada"

"Because of the scope of the work involved, the Greater Vancouver Water District could not have afforded this project without matching contributions from the federal and provincial governments through the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program," said Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "These kinds of big projects can be best done in partnership. All Canadians have a stake in this."

"We are committed to working in partnerships to support safe, secure and healthy communities," said George Abbott, Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services minister. "The Seymour water filtration project embodies our commitment to helping local governments and organizations undertake infrastructure projects to benefit communities across British Columbia."

"Over 786,000 households currently connected to the municipal water system will benefit directly from this project," said Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development). "This new plant will enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the Greater Vancouver Water District."

"Filtration at the Seymour and Capilano sources will further improve the quality of the region's drinking water," said Greater Vancouver Regional District Chair George Puil. "Funding support from our federal and provincial partners for this project is greatly appreciated as we strive to protect the values, like clean water, that make the GVRD one of the most desirable places in the world to live."

The Canada-British Columbia Infrastructure Program Agreement, signed in October 2000, will invest more than $800 million in British Columbia. A minimum of 75 per cent of the funding - or $600 million in total federal, provincial and local government funds - is for the program's first priority: water and wastewater systems, water management, and capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of local government buildings and facilities.

Today's announcement brings the total number of approved projects to 103, with the combined total contribution of the federal and provincial governments at more than $274 million, part of the $533 million they are contributing towards the program over its six-year lifetime. The project applicants will contribute the remaining eligible costs under the program guidelines, plus any additional costs. The total eligible cost of all projects approved to date is over $422 million. The Seymour Water Filtration project approval is conditional on the completion of the environmental assessment.

More information on the program is available at: http://www.cse.gov.bc.ca/InfrastructureProgram.

For additional information, contact:

Dave Morgan
A/Manager, Communications Western Economic Diversification
Canada
(604) 666-7543

Maureen Murphy
Communications Director
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
(250) 952-0621

Bill Morrell
Communications and Education
GVRD
(604) 451-6107