B.C. government may turn to private sector to fund infrastructure

The new B.C. government has said that as part of its cost-cutting measures and restructuring it will encourage public-private investment in infrastructure projects when it releases its budget February 19. Last December the federal government and B.C. announced 15 water and sewer infrastructure projects worth $37 million under the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure program.
The projects – subject to environmental approvals – include a water reservoir for 108 Mile House, a water treatment plant to serve Telkwa, a chlorination plant in Campbell River, and water filtration plants in Slocan, Port Edward And Abbotsford-Mission and on the Sunshine Coast. There will also be water system upgrades in Naramata, Enderby, Walhachin and Nakusp, a new water and sewer system for the Kye Bay community and implementation of a water quality plan for Dawson Creek.
Under the program the federal, provincial and local governments will invest a total of $800 million in new infrastructure under the five year program.. Federal funding for the projects was confirmed in the December 2001 budget.