| Infrastructure Canada January 24, 2012 PENTICTON – The District of Summerland has received $501,966 for the Prairie Creek Stormwater Diversion Works, and the Regional District of Okanagan – Similkameen has received $91,000 for Eastgate Flood Protection Phase 2. They are now better prepared for flood emergencies thanks to a joint investment by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia. The announcement, made today, is aimed at helping meet pressing infrastructure needs, protecting families and communities’ critical infrastructure, and supporting continued economic growth. “Our Government believes it is important to be proactive with projects that protect the public interest” said Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas. “This investment will help avoid the need for costly clean up and reconstruction work down the road and will also minimize the risk to public safety.” "This project may not make headlines, but will reduce the flood threat in Summerland, and help to prevent costly flood related damage," said Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff, about the Prairie Creek Stormwater Diversion Works. “This project will protect and benefit a lot of communities throughout Similkameen,” said Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater about the Eastgate Flood Protection Phase 2. "Residents have been really concerned and this funding is really important. We've seen the community come together in so many ways here so we're really happy," says Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Director Brad Hope. “We are extremely pleased to receive this funding. The Prairie Creek Diversion Project will not only replace a section of aging infrastructure, it will also significantly reduce groundwater and flooding issues that have plagued neighbouring properties for decades,” said District of Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino. Funding for 22 flood mitigation projects in 20 communities was announced on January 24, 2012, by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and the Honourable Shirley Bond, B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General. This funding will help communities address existing flood concerns, and take proactive steps toward preventing flooding emergencies. The initiatives range from flood protection in the Cowichan Valley, to stormwater diversion in Summerland, to upgrading the Maple Pump Station in Surrey. Flood protection projects were selected based on local government or dike authority applications that offered cost-effective solutions for areas at risk. Federal and provincial governments provide up to two-thirds of the funding for eligible project costs, with local governments and diking authorities covering the remainder of project funding. These investments are being delivered through two important programs. In 2008, the federal government allocated $136 million to the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund, to support local government infrastructure projects in communities with a population of less than 100,000 people. Of this funding, $25 million was specifically allocated to accommodate disaster mitigation projects selected through the Provincial Flood Protection Program. Mitigation funds will assist communities across B.C. by providing funding for new dikes, erosion protection, pump stations, flood boxes and other structures to better protect communities from flooding. The Provincial-Territorial Base Fund (PT Base Fund) is part of the Building Canada Plan and provides $175 million to each province and territory to address core infrastructure priorities such as water, waste water, green energy, regional and community airports, and safe roads. Of this funding, $23 million was identified for the Flood Protection Program. Since the beginning of this partnership, the federal, provincial and local governments have committed to 137 projects with a combined total value of nearly $125 million to protect communities against flood hazards throughout British Columbia. For more information on these funding programs, visit www.bcbuildingcanadafundcommunities.ca and www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. -30- Media Contacts: Jaime Burke Government Communications and Public Engagement Infrastructure Canada | |
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