Local governments in the Kelowna area are receiving federal-provincial investments in critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure, announced Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna; Steve Thomson, MLA for Kelowna-Mission; and Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country on behalf of Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender.

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund is providing approximately $310 million to 144 projects throughout the province.

Clean Water and Wastewater Fund recipients for the Kelowna region include:

• $43,907,000 to the City of Kelowna for Phase 1 of the city’s integrated water supply plan and the South East Kelowna Irrigation District (SEKID)/South Okanagan Mission Improvement District (SOMID) Water Supply Project;
• $41,002,000 for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant; and
• $602,082 for the Falcon Ridge Water System Improvement.

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund enables crucial investments in local government infrastructure, specifically supporting long-term benefits in rehabilitating drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems, as well as planning and designing future facilities and upgrades to existing wastewater systems.

This funding will help communities ensure that residents enjoy safe and reliable access to drinking water and improved environmental protections, and will assist local governments in meeting provincial and federal regulations. Clean water and wastewater management is a core service that communities depend on to grow and help ensure sustainability principles are met, while improving community vibrancy, resiliency and attractiveness.

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund is one of the key ways the B.C. government is taking action to strengthen, grow and diversify rural communities. These projects build on the immediate investments and long-term action plan outlined in B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy. These projects are expected to create over 26,000 jobs and add $2.8 billion to provincial GDP.

Quotes:

Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country –

“Water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to maintaining clean waterways and a healthy environment. The federal government is committed to engaging with our regional partners to make sure they have the support they need to build sustainable communities. I want to thank our mayors and MLAs for their efforts in moving these projects forward. By working in partnership we are helping to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of Kelowna-Lake Country residents for generations to come.”

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“Safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater systems are essential infrastructure for all communities in our province. The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund enables local governments to make the critical investments in essential services their citizens rely upon. This program is another successful example of our government working together with our federal and municipal partners to best serve British Columbians.”

Premier Christy Clark, Westside-Kelowna MLA –

“Our balanced budget has allowed us to make record investments in communities throughout British Columbia, and ensure the services and infrastructure we all depend on, like the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant, keep up with the needs of a growing population.”

Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson –

“Through these three projects in the Kelowna area, we are creating better access to fresh water services for hundreds of families and individuals, creating job opportunities, and planning for the future of our province. I look forward to seeing the future success and development of the water systems.”

Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick –

“As part of our province’s Rural Economic Development Strategy Kelowna will be the beneficiary of an $85.5 million investment into its critical water system infrastructure. The province and the federal government have partnered on 144 projects to provide and expand access to clean water and sustainable waste systems which are crucial foundations for all of our communities.”

Mayor Colin Basran, City of Kelowna –

“Funding of this magnitude is something we rarely see. In fact, this is the largest single grant anyone at the city can remember receiving. I want to thank the federal and provincial governments for acknowledging this essential need in Kelowna and for committing to help ensure our citizens have safe clean drinking water for a rapidly growing population a resilient and redundant water supply system to meet our agricultural needs in the face of climate change.”

Mayor Doug Findlater, City of West Kelowna –

“Construction of the $49-million Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant will be the first megaproject the City of West Kelowna has undertaken since incorporating nearly ten years ago. Federal and provincial partnership funding will advance the project’s timeline by more than five years, and ensure safe, clean drinking water for more than 18,000 residents, over 300 businesses, seven schools, two arenas and a major extended care facility.”

Brian Wright, chair, South East Kelowna Irrigation District –

“The SEKID board wants to thank the Province and federal government for the funding that will enable us to deliver clean drinking water for domestic water users in South East Kelowna via the application with the city. We will be able to complete our project in a timely fashion with this funding.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2016, Premier Christy Clark announced $148.5 million for the new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. Combined with the federal commitment of $225.1 million, this provides a total of $373.6 million in senior-government funding to support rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.
• Approved projects are cost shared 50% by the Government of Canada, 33% by the Province of British Columbia, and the remaining 17% from the local government.
• In September 2016, 35 projects received approval under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, representing $60 million in combined funding from the provincial and federal governments.
• This funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada’s historic plan to support public infrastructure across the country.
• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Learn More:

Province of B.C.’s Clean Water and Wastewater Fund overview:
http://www.gov.bc.ca/cleanwaterwastewaterfund

Government of Canada’s Clean Water and Wastewater Fund overview:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf/cwwf-program-programme-eng.html

City of West Kelowna project overview: www.westkelownacity.ca/intheworks

Government of Canada news release announcing 144 projects within B.C.:
https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2017/03/canada_and_britishcolumbiainvestin144newwaterandwastewaterinfras.html