Governments of Canada and British Columbia Support the Expansion of Drinking Water Services to Tsawwassen First Nation and Upgrades to Delta Storm Water Management System

TSAWWASSEN, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 31, 2015) -

The Honourable Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Delta-Richmond East was joined today by Scott Hamilton, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Delta North, Greg Moore, Chair of Metro Vancouver Board of Directors and Mayor of the City of Port Coquitlam, and Chief Bryce Williams of Tsawwassen First Nation, to announce federal and provincial funding of up to $3.7 million each for a significant upgrade to a regional watermain in order to service Tsawwassen First Nation within Metro Vancouver. The federal and provincial representatives also joined with Lois E. Jackson, Mayor of the Corporation of Delta to announce funding for improvements to the 12th Avenue storm water management facility in Delta.

The Tsawwassen First Nation water project consists of two components: the first is an upgrade of an existing regional watermain between 28^th Avenue and 12^th Avenue, from a 350mm watermain to a 900mm watermain. The second component involves a new connection to Tsawwassen First Nation's water system, including appropriate valves and metering. Once complete, the upgrades will mean enhanced water reliability for the communities of Tsawwassen First Nation and surrounding communities, which will support current and future development.

The storm water management project in Delta involves expanding and upgrading the operating capacity of the 12th Avenue storm water pump station, including raising the existing dike height to protect the facility from rising sea levels. The project will address current urban and agricultural drainage capacity needs, and provide sufficient additional capacity to meet any anticipated new development needs.

The New Building Canada Plan is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in Canada's history. This unprecedented commitment is providing $53 billion to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure between 2014 and 2024.

Over this ten-year period, British Columbia will benefit from approximately $3.9 billion in dedicated federal funding, including almost $1.1 billion under the New Building Canada Fund.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has approved in principal the upgrade of the 52^nd Street water main and installation of a new connection to the Tsawwassen First Nation's water system for funding of up to a maximum of $3,702,000. The project will be funded under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. This funding is conditional on the signing of a contribution agreement.
  
  
• The Government of British Columbia will also contribute approximately $3.7 million to the project. In addition, the Tsawwassen First Nation will contribute close to $5.8 million and the Greater Vancouver Water District will contribute $4.4 million in incremental costs as part of Tsawwassen First Nation's entry into the Greater Vancouver Water District. The total estimated cost of the project is $17.6 million.
  
  
• The Government of Canada will also be contributing up to $2,700,000 to 12th Avenue storm water management project in Delta under the New Building Canada Fund's Small Communities Fund. The Government of British Columbia will also be contributing up to $2,700,000 to the project. The City of Delta will be responsible for the remaining costs of the project, which has a total estimated cost of $8,100,000.
  
  
• The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
  
  
  • The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
    
    
  • The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
    
    
    • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
      
      
    • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
      
      
  • An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.
    
    
• Tsawwassen First Nation is British Columbia's first urban Treaty First Nation, and the first treaty to be implemented under the BC Treaty Process. TFN is building its future by creating a sustainable revenue base in order to strengthen community infrastructure, programs, and services.
  
  

Quotes

"Our Government's support for public infrastructure has never been stronger. We are pleased to work with the Province of British Columbia to approve projects under the New Building Canada Fund, to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in British Columbia as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada. We are proud to invest in the expansion of the drinking water services for Tsawwassen First Nation as the newest member of the Greater Vancouver Water District."

The Honourable Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Delta-Richmond East

"We are pleased to be able to provide funding for drinking water services to Tsawwassen First Nation and upgrades to Delta Storm Water Management System. These projects are made possible through our partnerships in the New Building Canada Fund and speak to the benefits of working together on large infrastructure projects. Collective funding supporting the projects is more than $25 million, which will generate significant economic activity in the region while improving access to high quality drinking water and addressing increasing demands on rain water management infrastructure."

Scott Hamilton, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Delta North

"Metro Vancouver welcomed the Tsawwassen First Nation to the Greater Vancouver Water District in 2009 as part of an historic agreement with the Nation, and we are honoured to be here today to celebrate this funding agreement for the TFN Water Main Project. This initiative will not only support the full build-out of Tsawwassen First Nation's Land Use Plan, it will also provide much needed community infrastructure for decades to come."

Greg Moore, Chair of Metro Vancouver Board of Directors and Mayor of the City of Port Coquitlam

"Tsawwassen First Nation is very proud to partner with Canada, British Columbia, and Metro Vancouver to make this very important regional infrastructure upgrade a reality. The replacement of this regional watermain provides the capacity to fully service Tsawwassen First Nation's build-out. We are so pleased that Canada and British Columbia have agreed to contribute to this project, and we look forward to working with them and with Metro Vancouver as we continue to build towards a sustainable future for Tsawwassen First Nation"

Bryce Williams, Chief, Tsawwassen First Nation

"I would like to thank our MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Todd Stone, for successfully procuring these funds for Delta, and their collective commitment to the safety and protection of our residents. This Federal and Provincial contribution will significantly assist Delta in replacing the half-century old pump station to enhance drainage for urban and agricultural uses, improve water quality, and provide additional capacity for new development."

Lois Jackson, Mayor of the Corporation of Delta

Associated Links

To learn more about the New Building Canada Fund - Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan.

Learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan.

Learn more about the Small Communities Fund at work in British Columbia: www.gov.bc.ca/smallcommunitiesfund.

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