KAMLOOPS - The federal and provincial governments are contributing more than $23.2 million towards the City of Kamloops' $48.5-million water treatment project, under the $800-million Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program. The water filtration plant at River Street will provide safe, reliable drinking water for the city.

The Honourable D. Ross Fitzpatrick, Senator for Okanagan-Similkameen, on behalf of Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), and George Abbott, community, aboriginal and women's services minister, announced the project today.

The federal and provincial governments' investment in the Kamloops project is based on the $35-million portion of the capital costs that is eligible under the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program. Each partner - federal, provincial and municipal - pays a third of the eligible costs, with local governments paying any additional costs. Kamloops will be contributing more than $25.2 million towards the city's water treatment plant.

The federal and provincial governments will each contribute about $268 million towards the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program over its six-year lifetime. Seventy-five other projects totalling nearly $131 million have already been announced.

"The new 'green' technology to be used in the Kamloops plant is an innovative contribution to the sustainability of our communities," said Senator Fitzpatrick. "The Government of Canada appreciates the initiative of the city of Kamloops in finding a solution to its water-treatment needs and bringing the benefits of innovation to our cities and towns."

Secretary of State Owen noted: "Thanks to the co-operation among the three levels of government, we are able to announce this very significant improvement to Kamloops' water supply. By using our joint resources strategically, we can ensure the most benefit for B.C. citizens."

"I'm proud to say that our government helped resolve this long-standing problem," said Abbott. "This project is proof that all levels of government can work together to protect the health of this and other communities."

"We all want to know that, when we turn on the tap, the water that comes out is safe to drink," said Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond. "This new filtration plant will help give local residents peace of mind. They will also help to make the city a more attractive place to live, work, invest and do business."

"The treatment plant will protect people in Kamloops from giardia and cryptosporidium," said Kamloops-Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. "It will feature new technology, pioneered in Canada, which uses immersed membrane filtration to reduce the risk of contamination. It will be one of the largest facilities in North America to use this technology."

"This is fantastic news for Kamloops," said Kamloops Mayor Mel Rothenburger. "I guess this proves good things are worth waiting for." He said the city can now proceed with its borrowing bylaw and keep the project on track. "This grant will substantially reduce the burden on local taxpayers and ensure that we can resolve our water-quality problem."

Under the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program, the federal, provincial and local governments will invest a total of $800 million in municipal infrastructure in urban and rural communities across the province. This program builds on the previous Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Works Program, which invested $825 million in British Columbia.

Media contact:

Jean-Pierre Roy
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification
604 666-1318

Ben Pires
Manager, Communications
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
250 952-0611