COQUITLAM, B.C. – The City of
Coquitlam has received $310,000 for a project to construct bypass sediment trapping facilities at Scott Creek and Hoy Creek. Coquitlam will be better prepared for flood emergencies thanks to this joint investment by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia.
The announcement, made today, is aimed at helping Coquitlam meet their pressing infrastructure needs, protecting families and communities’ critical infrastructure, and supporting continued economic growth.
"Our Government received a strong mandate to protect the well-being of British Columbians and their property," said the Honourable James Moore, Senior Minister for British Columbia and Member of Parliament for Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam. "This project will help protect our community from flooding while delivering targeted support for our economy."
“This investment will reduce the flood threat to numerous residential and commercial properties in Coquitlam,” said Douglas Horne, MLA Coquitlam-Burke Mountain. “On top of that, it will create good family-supporting jobs and economic spinoffs during the construction phase.”
Funding is geared toward 22 flood mitigation projects in 20 communities which will help communities address existing flood concerns, and take proactive steps toward preventing flooding emergencies. The initiatives range from pump station upgrades in Richmond, to Fraser River flood protection and 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.
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.
