Northwest communities getting infrastructure and jobs boost through B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan, say local NDP MLAs

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VICTORIA – New Democrat MLAs Nathan Cullen and Jennifer Rice say that communities in the northwest will be able to recover more quickly from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with help from close to $13 million in new funding for local infrastructure projects.

“These investments will both help us recover from the pandemic and build an economic future that is strong, diversified, and works for people,” said Cullen, MLA for Stikine. “In addition to building back from the economic hit of COVID-19, these projects will benefit people in their daily lives and help create jobs here in the northwest. This is a $13 million dollar shot in the arm.”

“In the face of this pandemic that has been so difficult for people, communities in our region have shown incredible resilience and creativity in finding ways to weather the storm,” said Rice, MLA for North Coast. “That resilience has helped us through these times, and it’s what will help us recover from them. This recovery funding will help communities build on their strengths, so that we can have an economic recovery that works for people at the local level.”

The funding is going to almost 30 community-based projects across the northwest of the province, from Atlin to Burns Lake to Bella Coola. (See backgrounder below for list of projects).

This funding is coming through B.C.’s CERIP (Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program) which is providing $100 million in one-time infrastructure grants for shovel-worthy projects across B.C. These projects will improve community economic resilience, develop tourism infrastructure, support unique heritage infrastructure, and support economic recovery for rural communities.

CERIP’s funding is distributed through different provincial ministries and third party organizations, including Municipal Affairs; Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; and Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

This funding is part of BC’s $10 billion COVID-19 response to help support people, businesses, communities, and critical services, and build a strong economic recovery that works for everyone.

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Northwest community projects receiving funding:

  • Atlin Historical Society- Atlin Courthouse Rehabilitation (Heritage BC) ($450,000)
    • Extensive rehabilitation of the Atlin Courthouse building.
  • Smithers Central Park Building Society- CPB rehabilitation (Heritage BC) ($20,632)
    • Repair weather-damaged areas of the Central Park Building and paint in heritage paint scheme.
  • Dease River Development Corporation- Good Hope Lake Worker Accommodation Initiative (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) ($ 669,729)
    • Creation of a multi-use camp facility.
  • Smithers- Arena Ice Plants Consolidation and Heat Recovery – Phase 1 (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($980,000)
    • New chiller, brine supply, and piping for arena.
  • Smithers Mountain Bike Association- Lift-served mountain biking in an iconic location (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($ 596,400)
    • Upgrading 50km of trails and the chairlift to offer lift-served mountain biking on existing and future trails.
  • Telkwa- Boat Launch Upgrade (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($26,674)
  • Stewart- Stewart Boardwalk Rehabilitation (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($100,000)
    • Rehabilitate Stewart Boardwalks including removing worn deck boards and replacing deck boards.
  • Bella Bella- Kunsoot Wellness Society (First People’s Cultural Council) ($400,000)
    • Construction of new infrastructure at health centre.
  • Skidegate- Haida Gwaii Museum Society (First People’s Cultural Council) ($399,603)
    • Saahlinda Naay – Saving Things House: Museum upgrades and repairs.
  • Port Edward Historical Society (Heritage BC) ($273,870)
    • Preservation Interventions to North Pacific Cannery NHS.
  • Alkw Media Society- House of Numst’ (Heritage BC) ($995,000)
    • Restore the House of Numst’ heritage building in Bella Coola.
  • Misty Isles Economic Development Society- Haida Gwaii E-Commerce Project (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) ($313,947)
    • Promote online sales of artisanal products from Haida Gwaii.
  • Prince Rupert Waterfront Airport Ferry Landing (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) ($ 1,000,000)
    • Develop a new multi-faceted waterfront development, including a new marine terminal.
  • Hagensborg Centennial Pool Renewal (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($990,840)
  • Gitga’at Development Corporation- Building energy efficiency and accessibility upgrade (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($456,000)
  • Qay’Llnagaay Heritage Centre Society- Haida Heritage Centre Upgrades (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($472,770)
  • Tourism Prince Rupert- Prince Rupert Welcome & Wayfinding Signage Improvement Project. (BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($239,126).
  • Terrace LakeIse Gateway Connection Project (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($921,352)
    • Installation of a 1km long multi-use destination pathway on the north side of Lakelse Avenue.
  • Spring Creek Expansion Project (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) ($267,960)
    • Construct three new trails on the Terrace Mountain/Steinhoe Ridge Trail Network.
  • New Aiyansh- Nisga’a Lisms Government (First People’s Cultural Council) ($377,293)
    • Nisga’a Museum: Safeguarding the Ancestors Collection. Upgrades to archival storage and HVAC systems.
  • Nisga’a Lisims Government- Vetter Lodge – Tourism Capacity / Accessibility Upgrades (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($141,875)
    • Accessibility and COVID-19 safety upgrades, conference/group tour space improvements and cabin modernization, improved cultural signage.
  • Yun Yah Indigenous Society- Pit House Washroom & Landscape Development Project (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($442,500)
    • COVID adaptations – enhance washroom facility, accessible walkways construct trail to access the lake.
  • Burns Lake- Burns Lake & Area Tourism Development (B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport) ($149,125)
    • Installing wayfinding system, with informational kiosks, new banners and murals.
  • Village of Burns Lake- St. John’s Anglican Church Revitalization (Heritage BC) ($275,000)
  • Burns Lake Native Development Corporation- Forestry Operations Expansion Initiative
    • Plan to construct a new repair and maintenance facility where they can repair equipment, train members and increase capacity to take on more forestry jobs. (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) ($779,433)
  • Granisle- Curling Rink Facility Upgrade (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($362,148)
    • The project will upgrade the Granisle curling rink, the most used recreational facility in the community.
  • Lakes District Film Appreciation Society- Beacon Theatre Siding and Front Façade Project (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($309,000)
  • Fraser Lake- Community Hall Development (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($1,000,000)
    • The project will upgrade the local curling rink into a year-round community hall and gathering place.
  • Takla First Nation- Playground Construction and Trail Enhancement Initiative (B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs) ($470,800)
    • The project will provide an improved space for outdoor programming and child development with the construction of a playground and an upgrade to the bike trail system on the traditional territory.