The Town of Princeton will receive more than $1.7 million in federal and provincial funding to extend and upgrade its water system, and improve water quality and fire protection. Ron Cannan, MP for Kelowna-Lake Country, and Rick Thorpe, MLA Okanagan-Westside announced the funding under the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF) today.

“Through the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, our Government is investing in infrastructure that supports a growing economy, a clean environment and more prosperous communities,” said Mr. Cannan, 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. “The extension of Princeton's water system will enable the East Princeton Waterworks District and Airport/Jacobsen Road area to lift recent boil water advisories and improve fire protection through the installation of new fire hydrants.”

The funding will extend the Town of Princeton's drinking water system to the East Princeton Waterworks District and to the Airport/Jacobsen Road area, resulting in an elimination of recent boil water advisories. This project involves the construction of a 700 cubic metre reservoir, installation of approximately 4.5 km of new water main, upgrades to the existing distribution system and installation of fire hydrants. This project is conditionally approved pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

“Our government is committed to investing in environmentally sustainable infrastructure that ensures B.C. communities have safe and clean drinking water,” said Thorpe. “We are pleased to work with the federal government and the Town of Princeton to improve water quality and help remove boil water advisories in this area.”

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, the Government of Canada 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
Communications Advisor
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-4714

Marc Black
B.C. Ministry of Community Services
(250) 356-6334