April 21, 2008

ATHABASCA, ALBERTA — Today Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray-Athabasca, announced that the Government of Canada is investing in new water projects which will ensure local producers have a sustainable and strong water supply for years to come. This investment of $392,922 in 7 projects is funded through the Canada-Alberta Water Supply Expansion Program (CAWSEP).

“Local producers need access to a reliable water supply in order to deliver results at the farm gate and beyond, which is why I’m pleased to announce that our Government is supporting these projects,” said MP Jean. "By investing in these water projects and studies, the Government of Canada is taking another step to support our farmers and ensure our local agricultural industry remains vibrant and successful for years to come.”

These projects include:

• $21,500 for the County of Athabasca’s George Lake Tank Loading Facility. The project involves the completion of a Tank Loader facility which will serve approximately 600 to 800 residents from the surrounding area.
• $37,500 for the Tsuu T’ina Nation Pasture Water Supplies. This project will develop a number of sustainable water supplies on upwards of 8000 acres of pasture land in order to support a viable cattle operation. The development of this project will allow the Tsuu T’ina Nation to begin building up its cattle operation while better utilizing the available rangeland through improved grazing management practices.
• 26,667 for the Lakeland County Tank Loading Facility. This groundwater exploration initiative will identify potential sites where Agricultural Tank Loading Facilities can be located to provide good quality water for area producers. Depending on the success of the test drilling program, one rural Tankloading Facility is proposed to be constructed in 2007. The project will include the development of a well, concrete reservoir, pump-house building and other related infrastructure.
• $33,333 for the Hamlet of Colinton Tankloading Facility. The project will establish a long-term County plan to provide suitable water supplies, within a reasonable distance of their farming operations, to all producers in the County. This project intends to establish a tankloading facility which would supply potable water to serve the agricultural producers and other residents within the Colinton area.
• $130,115 for the Kinuso Rural Water Pipeline. The Kinuso Rural Water Co-op will add approximately 15 km of pipeline, including branch lines and their ancillary works, in order to provide potable water to 14 additional farm units located within the Municipal District of Big Lakes. The project will help alleviate water-related constraints by providing a secure supply of good quality water while also providing opportunity for expanding agricultural operations.
• $23,807 for the Grosmont and Boyle Truckfill Facilities. This project will construct two Truckfill Facilities in the Grosmont and Boyle areas of the County of Athabasca #12. These facilities are part of an ongoing effort by the County to establish rural water supplies for their agricultural communities and to provide emergency water sources for fire protection and during periods of extended drought.
• $120,000 for the Lakeland County Groundwater Investigation for test drilling and groundwater investigation to locate suitable sites for tankloading facilities.
  

These projects are a part of an announcement made on March 19, 2008 by the Governments of Canada and Alberta, in which more than $8.8 million will be invested in 63 agricultural water supply projects and studies across Alberta.

Assistance for these projects, both technical and financial, is provided through the CAWSEP, which is the provincial component of the National Water Supply Expansion Program. The objective of the National Water Supply Expansion Program is to provide assistance to the agricultural community across Canada to help reduce the risk of future water shortages, and to meet the everyday growing needs of a vibrant Canadian agricultural sector, through the planning and development of secure, healthy and reliable water resources.