March 21, 2009

 

LAKE COUNTRY – The District of Lake Country will benefit from close to $900,000 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 Lake Country, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs,” said Ron Cannan, MP for Kelowna-Lake Country. “This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.’s economy and keeping British Columbians working.”

Lake Country will receive:

• $311,250 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for the Woodsdale Road Tennis Court Construction project, which will see the construction of four courts and associated landscaping.
• $545,400 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:
• $464,473 in Small Community Grant funding to support Lake Country in providing basic services.
• $80,927 from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program to enhance policing and community-based safety programs.
• $31,053 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the Swalwell Urban Park project.
• $10,000 in Infrastructure Planning Grant Program funding to support an Infrastructure Asset Management Roadmap project.
• $1,418 from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program – equal to 100 per cent of the carbon tax paid as part of direct expenditures on fossil fuels. Lake Country is one of more than 175 communities that have signed the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

“I’m pleased to see that the positive relationship we share with the federal government is providing extensive benefits for the Woodsdale Road Tennis Court,” said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Al Horning, on behalf of Community Development Minster Kevin Krueger. “As well, the restructuring of our provincial grant programs gives communities faster access to funding to assist in a variety of projects providing community safety, infrastructure and, most importantly, jobs.”

“We are extremely pleased to be able to move forward in creating a healthy and inclusive community with provincial and federal assistance,” said District of Lake Country Mayor James Baker. “We want to thank Al Horning our MLA and Ron Cannan our MP for all their efforts in helping us obtain these grants.”

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.