The Town of Golden’s wastewater treatment facility will have a new backup electrical system as a result of $80,000 in federal and provincial funding. Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services, made the announcement today.

“This reserve generator will ensure the facility has enough power to filter water in the event of power failures, and will provide Golden residents with a more reliable and efficient wastewater treatment facility,” said Mr. Abbott, 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 Government of Canada is working in partnership with the province to build safe and healthy communities across British Columbia.”

The Canada-BC Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF) investment will allow the Town to install a 230-kilowatt generator, a 600-amp transfer switch, a structural base pad and related wiring and instrumentation, providing the wastewater treatment facility with emergency standby power. This project is conditionally approved, pending the successful completion of an environmental assessment.

“Our government is committed to supporting sustainable infrastructure that benefits our communities and our environment,” said Chong. “As a result of this grant, the Town of Golden will have an emergency power supply ensuring reliable, uninterrupted service for the community.”

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.

Further details on the program are available through the Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund website, at www.th.gov.bc.ca/CBMRIF/index.htm.

For additional information, contact:

Karl Yeh
Western Economic Diversification
604 666-4714

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