Seven British Columbia Communities Will Get Improved Drinking Water, Better Protection of the Environment & New Recreational Opportunities, Via $39 Million in Canada’s Federal Gas Tax Funds

Under the renewed federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF), allocations to provinces and territories over the first five years of the New Building Canada Plan (NBCP) (2014-2019) are based on Census 2011 data, as follows:

Jurisdiction GTF Allocation
Newfoundland and Labrador $155,298,305
Prince Edward Island $78,000,000
Nova Scotia $276,775,682
New Brunswick $225,275,924
Quebec $2,382,738,448
Ontario $3,873,734,778
Manitoba $340,447,890
Saskatchewan $292,707,395
Alberta $1,084,982,788
British Columbia $1,317,039,837
Yukon $78,000,000
Northwest Territories $78,000,000
Nunavut $78,000,000
First Nations $138,998,953
Canada $10,400,000,000

Specific allocations to municipalities are determined through federal-provincial-territorial GTF agreements. Allocations for 2019-2024 will be based on Census 2016 data.

Recently, Canada’s Federal, Provincial and Local Government officials joined together to announce the approval of the seven new community projects that will improve drinking water, better protect the environment and provide new recreational opportunities for residents across British Columbia.

  • The projects relate to wastewater, recreational infrastructure, drinking water, and brownfield redevelopment. The projects will better protect the marine ecosystems, and build new places for recreational activities.

The following video presents Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre:

“This is a possible scenario of the expansion to secondary treatment at Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre. Changes may be made in both the technology used and the layout.“

Among the projects is a wastewater outfall project for the Regional District of Nanaimo:

Image above shows location of the existing and replacement outfall. In the Nanaimo area, wastewater is sent to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre (GNPCC) at 4600 Hammond Bay Road where it is treated and disposed of through an outfall. The outfall begins as a pipe buried under land. It then travels along the sea floor to its final discharge point 2 km out into the Strait of Georgia (beyond Five Fingers Island) and 70 m below sea level. Image Courtesy of The Regional District of Nanaimo.
Image above shows location of the existing and replacement outfall. In the Nanaimo area, wastewater is sent to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre (GNPCC) at 4600 Hammond Bay Road where it is treated and disposed of through an outfall. The outfall begins as a pipe buried under land. It then travels along the sea floor to its final discharge point 2 km out into the Strait of Georgia (beyond Five Fingers Island) and 70 m below sea level. Image Courtesy of The Regional District of Nanaimo.
  • The Regional District of Nanaimo is replacing the outfall pipe at the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre, as shown in the above photo. Installed in 1973, the pipe carries treated effluent from the treatment facility to Morningside Park and continues for approximately 2 km out into the Strait of Georgia along the sea floor.
  • Upgrades to the pipe have been ongoing since 2014 and will be completed this summer. The GNPCC treats wastewater from approximately 93,000 residents in the City of Nanaimo, parts of the District of Lantzville and from Snuneymuxw First Nation lands.
  • The Government of Canada has contributed federal funding of $6 million to this wastewater infrastructure project in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Details of that project are available at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1094179 .

Also, a listing of the other six approved projects are available at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1094189 .

PRESS RELEASE

Residents of seven British Columbia communities to benefit from $39 million in federal Gas Tax Funds

Nanaimo, British Columbia – July 5, 2016

Federal, Provincial and Local Government officials joined together today to announce the approval of seven new community projects that will improve drinking water, better protect the environment and provide new recreational opportunities for residents across the province.

The Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Pam Goldsmith-Jones was in Nanaimo today to make the announcement on behalf of federal Minister Amarjeet Sohi, as well as to celebrate funding for a Regional District of Nanaimo project. MP Goldsmith-Jones was accompanied by the MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, Michelle Stilwell; UMCB President Al Richmond; as well as the Chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo, Bill Veenhof.

Seven new capital projects in various British Columbia communities were selected for funding, which will support the construction of a range of community infrastructure projects. The projects relate to wastewater (3), recreational infrastructure (2), drinking water (1), and brownfield redevelopment (1).The projects will better protect the marine ecosystems that British Columbians and tourists rely upon, and build new places to meet and enjoy family recreational activities.

Among the projects is a wastewater outfall project for the Regional District of Nanaimo. Details of that project as well as a listing of the other six approved projects are available through the backgrounders (see associated links section).

Overall, the total federal contribution towards the seven projects is $39 million and comes through the application based Strategic Priorities Fund of the federal Gas Tax Fund.

The Government of Canada provides close to $266 million in indexed annual funding for municipal infrastructure in British Columbia through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The majority of this funding is allocated to municipalities who decide which projects will address their local priorities. They can spend, pool, bank or use their annual allocation to finance loans related to eligible infrastructure or capacity building projects. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in BC, in partnership with Canada and British Columbia.

Quotes

“Through the federal Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada is allowing communities in British Columbia, and across Canada, to prioritize their infrastructure investments and decide how best to spend federal dollars. Whether it’s about protecting local waters, modernizing community centres or just turning on the tap to drink clean fresh water, these seven community projects will contribute to building the strong, inclusive and sustainable communities Canadians desire to live in.”

Pam Goldsmith-Jones,
Member of Parliament, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
On behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi,
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“The Province of British Columbia continues to support its communities and ensure residents have access to clean drinking water, modern recreation facilities and updated wastewater treatment solutions. We are pleased to work with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Government of Canada to provide municipalities and regional districts with a reliable source of funding for infrastructure investments and community planning through the Gas Tax Fund Agreement.”

Michelle Stilwell,
MLA for Parksville—Qualicum
On behalf of the Honourable Peter Fassbender,
Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development

“Local governments around British Columbia are looking for ways to finance the replacement and expansion of core infrastructure. The federal Gas Tax Fund provides valued support to accelerate the construction of projects that reflect the needs and priorities that have been identified by these communities. UMCB is proud to support the delivery of these significant federal investments and for the technical administrative support provided by the Province of B.C.”

Al Richmond,
President of the Union of BC Municipalities

“This funding supports an essential infrastructure upgrade for the Regional District of Nanaimo. The new pipe will not only protect the surrounding environment, it will also allow for future population growth and will complement other facility upgrades underway at the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre.”

Bill Veenhof,
Chair, Regional District of Nanaimo

Associated Links

Contact

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web site: Infrastructure Canada

You may also want to know:

Posted

in

, , , ,

by

editor

Tags:

, , , ,