| Canada and British Columbia Partner to Deliver on Surrey Flood Mitigation Priorities
Infrastructure Canada January 24, 2012 SURREY, B.C. – The City of Surrey has received $6,162,000 for Fraser River Flood Protection and Maple Pump Station Upgrades. Surrey is 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 Surrey meet their pressing infrastructure needs, protecting families and communities’ critical infrastructure, and supporting continued economic growth. “This investment of over $6 million will help residents in Surrey, knowing that the Fraser River Flood Protection Works and the Maple Pump Station will be better equipped to protect their homes and businesses from the risks of flood damage,” said Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal. “By investing in these projects we are delivering on our promise to provide greater safety to residents, as well as significant economic benefits for the City of Surrey.” “The projects announced today for Surrey will provide important flood protection, preventing flooding emergencies and protecting homes and commercial buildings from damage,” said Stephanie Cadieux MLA Surrey-Panorama of Maple Pump Station Upgrade and Fraser River Flood Protection Works. Funding for 22 flood mitigation projects in 20 communities was announced on January 24, 2012, by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, on behalf of 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. ”I’m proud of the action our federal government is taking to provide the funding needed to help protect livelihoods and property in our community. Our government is standing up for British Columbia,” said South Surrey - White Rock – Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert. 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 | |
| © 2007 Government Caucus of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved. |