The West Fernie Servicing Project will benefit from$5.4 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Gas Tax Fund. This investment will support the first phase of the community’s efforts to upgrade its water and sewer infrastructure.

“Infrastructure investments are an important driver of economic growth and job creation, and I am pleased that this project will help protect the environment and the health of East Kootenay residents,” said Sparwood’s David Wilks, Member of Parliament for Kootenay—Columbia. “Our government is proud to invest in these service improvements that will help support the growing needs of West Fernie for years to come.”

This project involves upgrading a deteriorating water distribution system, constructing a community sewer system, and providing storm sewer service in low lying areas. The long-term goal of the project is to develop sufficient infrastructure for West Fernie to become part of the City of Fernie. This Phase 1 funding will begin that work.

“We would like to thank the federal and provincial governments for investing in this project. Bringing sewer and improved water service to this community is so important and would not be possible without this generous support,” said Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board chair Rob Gay.

An additional $400,000 in funding for this project will be provided through the community and the Regional District of East Kootenay’s Electoral Area A’s portion of the Elk Valley Mine Tax Sharing Agreement.

“This is huge for West Fernie. We have been working with the community for several years to bring this forward and it would not have been possible without all levels of government working together including Kootenay—Columbia MP David Wilks, the City of Fernie, and in particular, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett whose persistence and hard work has moved these applications forward within BC,” said Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski. “This announcement brings together a total of $7.5 million in benefits for West Fernie in the last five years. It will make needed infrastructure upgrades cost-effective for West Fernie and will be a critical consideration in the upcoming community approval process.”

Bennett said the West Fernie project was the first file he handled when he originally became Kootenay East MLA.

“It is personally gratifying to receive such a large amount for West Fernie,” he said. “Mike Sosnowski and I have worked on this together for so many years. This is a wonderful start to meeting the critical needs of the residents of West Fernie.”

“Smaller communities in B.C. need support from all levels of government to ensure that water and wastewater systems meet federal and provincial standards,” said new UBCM President Mary Sjostrom. “The Gas Tax Fund is helping smaller communities make big improvements to their core services.”

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented investments in infrastructure. Through the Gas Tax Fund alone, municipalities across the country have received over $10 billion in transfers for local priority initiatives. Making this fund permanent at $2 billion annually was part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – a plan to help create good jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. Between 2007 and 2014, British Columbia will receive more than $1.48 billion from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.

The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in the province, in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.

Above image: RDEK board chair Rob Gay, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, RDEK Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski, and Kootenay Columbia MP David Wilks in West Fernie for the Feb. 1 announcement.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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