OVER $1 MILLION TO BENEFIT DAWSON CREEK

DAWSON CREEK – The City of Dawson Creek will benefit from nearly $1.1 million in federal and provincial funding announced today to help build local infrastructure, enhance community green spaces and invest in public safety initiatives.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow funding for Dawson Creek, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs,” said Hon. Jay Hill, MP for Prince George-Peace River. “This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.’s economy and keeping British Columbians working.”

“The government of British Columbia started the Towns for Tomorrow program as an investment in the future of our communities,” said Blair Lekstrom, MLA for Peace River South on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger. “During this economic time, I think everyone recognizes that every job counts, so we are pleased that the federal government is partnering with us in this program to provide support for the city of Dawson Creek.”

Dawson Creek will receive:

· $341,340 in federal and provincial Towns for Tomorrow funding for upgrades to the Lungul Reservoir - Emergency Pumping Station. The project will provide a back-up drinking water supply to residents in the event of an emergency situation when the drinking water supply from the Kiskatinaw River is unavailable.

· $10,000 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for Kin Park.

· $722,108 through the first instalment of the Province’s Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including:

o $ 504,701 in Small Community Grants to support Dawson Creek in providing basic services.

o $ 217,407 from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program to enhance policing and community-based safety programs, as announced on March 23.

· $20,000 in Infrastructure Planning grants to assist Dawson Creek in the second phase of its Water Demand Management Plan, and for its Conceptual Design of Treatment Process and Bulk Water Facility project.

“The Towns for Tomorrow program is an investment in the future of our city,” said Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier. “It’s a future that I am confident will see even more growth, more jobs, and more opportunity.”

The Towns for Tomorrow project is part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Beyond this funding announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced in Budget 2009, is a balanced stimulus plan that includes massive investments in infrastructure, tax relief and transfers. This plan will provide close to $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years which will address needs in communities across Canada, as well as contributing to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit.

BACKGROUNDER

Towns for Tomorrow is a five-year, $71-million program that helps smaller communities and regional districts with infrastructure projects. Towns for Tomorrow provides up to 80 per cent of funding for communities under 5,000, to a maximum of $400,000, and 75 per cent of funding for communities up to 15,000, to a maximum of $375,000. As a result of a commitment on the part of all levels of government to accelerate the disbursement of infrastructure funding to stimulate the economy and meet the needs of communities, the federal government is proudly supporting the Towns for Tomorrow program. To learn more, go to www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca.

Trees for Tomorrow is a five-year, $13-million program that is supporting community organizations, First Nations and local governments in urban and rural areas in planting four million trees in the public areas of cities, towns, villages and regional districts throughout B.C. In its first year, the program is providing approximately $3 million to support the planting of trees and the implementation of other energy-saving initiatives across British Columbia. The initiative, first announced in the 2008 speech from the throne, involves cost-sharing with a range of applicants and stewardship organizations. To learn more, visit www.treesfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca

Strategic Community Investment Fund: Through a restructuring of provincial grant programs, communities will see more funding sooner, giving them greater certainty and improved financial flexibility. Payments will be made on the basis of Strategic Community Investment Agreements with local governments. The first $133-million instalment on this two-year, $232-million initiative consists of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program and Small Community and Regional District Grants.

The Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program: Of the initial $133-million payment under the Strategic Community Investment Fund, $63 million will help municipalities enhance policing and community-based public safety programs. The Province has provided 100 per cent of net traffic fine revenues to local governments since 2004, amounting to an additional $206 million. Traffic fine revenue comes from fines on violation tickets, and the amount a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.

Small Community and Regional District Grants: $70 million of the initial $133-million payment under the Strategic Community Investment Fund will support local governments this year as part of the Province’s continuing commitment to help provide services in areas with smaller tax bases. The grant allocation takes into account three elements: basic funding for all municipalities with a population of less than 15,000, population-based funding, and property assessment-based funding. This year’s payment fulfils the Province’s commitment to double these grants over four years.

The Infrastructure Planning Grant Program is providing over $660,000 to help municipalities and regional districts with plans to design, develop and manage sustainable infrastructure. Through the program, local governments can receive up to $10,000 in grant funding. Often these grants fund studies that help communities apply for infrastructure project funding. For example, almost half the projects submitted to the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for funding were initiated with infrastructure planning grants.

The RuralBC Secretariat, established by the Province in 2008, helps local governments access the tools they need to achieve their unique visions for the future. The secretariat provides a direct service and information link between the provincial government and B.C.’s rural communities. The secretariat's regional managers are there to help communities take advantage of the most appropriate programs and sources of provincial and federal funding and identify opportunities to diversify local economies. Local governments are encouraged to visit www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca for more information.

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Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089

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