$472,611 INVESTMENT FOR NANAIMO REGIONAL DISTRICT

NANAIMO, BC, March19,2009.  The Regional District of Nanaimo will benefit from $472,611 in federal and provincial funding to help build local infrastructure, create a new community park and provide community services.

"The Regional District of Nanaimo is a leader in implementing state of the art water treatment and waste management systems," said Nanaimo-Alberni MP Dr. James Lunney. This investment in infrastructure observation wells and monitoring capability will further ensure water quality for our communities for years to come.

Our goal is to enhance the quality of life throughout the regional district while creating new jobs in these challenging economic times, said Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon, on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger. We are pleased to be working in partnership with the federal government for better water resources, greener spaces, and stronger infrastructure.

The Regional District will receive: $221,625 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for a Drinking Water and Watershed Protection monitoring program. It will result in the construction of approximately 10 groundwater observation wells and data loggers in 15 additional wells. 

$36,991 in federal and provincial funding from the LocalMotion program for the Meadow Drive Community Park Development project, to construct a park in the community of East Wellington/Pleasant Valley, including an accessible playground, playfield, fitness activity stations and walking trails, providing opportunities for all residents to participate in physical and recreational activities.

The Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion projects are 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.