CANADA, B.C. TO CREATE JOBS WITH $110M INVESTMENT

FORT ST. JOHN – Canada and B.C. have announced a joint investment of nearly $1.7 million for upgrades to the Fort St. John South Lagoon wastewater treatment plant, which will result in increased system efficiency and improved effluent quality. It is estimated that upwards of 25 new direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of this investment. This project is one of 41 projects across the province that will break ground quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of $110 million.

VICTORIA – The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Senior Regional Minister for British Columbia, along with Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon and Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger, announced an investment of over $110 million for 41 infrastructure projects to help smaller communities throughout British Columbia meet their pressing infrastructure needs, help stimulate the economy and support continued economic growth.

As an example of a project that will be funded, the City of Kamloops will receive $14.2 million from the federal and provincial governments to upgrade and update the existing wastewater treatment plant to provide tertiary treatment and nutrient management. The project, valued at $21.3 million, benefits the 85,000 people served by the treatment plant as well as residents of surrounding rural areas who rely on the plant for their sewage disposal. The upgrades will reduce greenhouse gas emissions through methane capture, allow for the reuse of reclaimed wastewater effluent and composted sludge, and increase effluent quality for the protection of the Thompson River.

Communities that applied in the first intake will be informed within the next couple of weeks as to the status of their applications. The federal and provincial governments will launch a second intake Feb. 19 and will consider applications received by March 16 for the next round of approvals. Applications received after that date but by the deadline of April 24 will be considered in a subsequent round of approvals from this intake. For more information on the Building Canada plan and the next intake, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or www.bcbuildingcanadafundcommunities.ca/.