HOUSTON - The federal and provincial governments are contributing $700,000 to the District of Houston to upgrade the community's water supply and distribution system under the $800-million Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program.

"The Government of Canada is happy to partner with the province and the District of Houston to ensure a source of clean drinking water for all to enjoy," said Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) in a letter to Houston Mayor Tom Euverman. "The strong role of local government in the Infrastructure Program cannot be overestimated. It's not just partnership - it's leadership."

"Our priority is to make sure all British Columbians have safe drinking water," said Rick Thorpe, Competition, Science and Enterprise Minister and provincial minister responsible for the infrastructure program. "Putting effective water and sewer infrastructure in place is essential to protecting drinking water quality, enhancing the environment and building a strong, healthy future for our province."

"Infrastructure projects, like the upgrade of Houston's water supply, are a key element of our government's action plan to strengthen drinking water protection, " said George Abbott, Minister of Community Aboriginal and Women's Services. "This project is proof that all levels of government can work together in partnership to protect the health of communities in northern British Columbia and across our province."

"The District of Houston is very pleased to be a recipient of funding under the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program," said Euverman. "Being assured of safe drinking water is paramount to a healthy and developing community. My thanks, and that of my council, to all those individuals who made this possible."

The project consists of two stages. The first stage involves test well development, providing chlorination facilities and implementing wellhead protection for existing wells. The second stage includes developing a production well and upgrades to the distribution system to meet fire protection requirements.

The Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program Agreement, signed in October 2000, will invest more than $800 million in British Columbia. A minimum of 75 per cent of the funding - or $600 million in total federal, provincial and local government funds - is for the program's first priority: water and wastewater systems, water management, and capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of local government buildings and facilities.

Today's announcement brings the total number of approved projects to 101, with the combined total contribution of the federal and provincial governments at more than $168 million, part of the $268 million each is contributing towards the program over its six-year lifetime. The project applicants contribute the remaining one-third of the costs eligible under the program guidelines, plus any additional costs.

More information on the program is available at www.cse.gov.bc.ca/InfrastructureProgram on the Internet.

Media contact:

Maureen Murphy
Communications Director
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
250 952-0621

David Morgan
Western Economic Diversification
604 666-1318
Toll Free: 1 888 338-9378