| JANUARY 24, 2012 ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The City of Abbotsford has received $890,000 for the Barrowtown Pump Station Electrical and Control Systems upgrade project. Abbotsford 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 Abbotsford meet its pressing infrastructure needs, protecting families and communities’ critical infrastructure, and supporting continued economic growth. "Floods have for many years been an ever-present danger in Abbotsford and surrounding Fraser Valley communities," said Abbotsford MP and International Trade Minister Ed Fast. "Federal funding for the Barrowtown Pump Station upgrades reflects our government's ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable communities against the Mighty Fraser and other flood prone rivers." "By extending the life of the Barrowtown Pump Station we will help maintain efficient drainage for 16,000 acres of prime agricultural land for the next quarter century,” said Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen. “The rainy season and spring run-off always see an increased risk of flooding,” said Abbotsford West MLA Michael de Jong. “This project will help reduce the possibility of extreme flooding on homes and farms on our flood plain.” “The flood mitigation funding that communities across B.C. received today is another example of our Federal and Provincial government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring communities like ours have access to the support they need,” said City of Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman. “Today’s funding will allow us to complete much needed upgrades to our Barrowtown Pump Station.” Funding for 22 flood mitigation projects in 20 communities was announced on January 24, 2012 by 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. 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- | |
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