Twenty-five Alberta communities receive support for stronger asset management practices

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 24, 2021 /CNW/ - As we continue to adapt to the new physical, social, and economic realities presented by COVID-19, all orders of government are working together to ensure the safety and well-being of Canadians. This includes providing local communities with tools and support for evidence-based decision-making that will help them plan a healthier, safer and more prosperous future for everyone.

This is why the Government of Canada is investing over $1.15 million in 25 new projects in Alberta communities through the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on behalf of the federal government. The program aims to strengthen local infrastructure planning and decision-making by increasing local asset management capacity through investments in activities such as asset management training, technology and software enhancements and information sharing.

With funding from MAMP:

• The City of Camrose will develop a long-range capital replacement program for the City's downtown. An engineering consultant will assess the condition of public underground infrastructure (potable water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer), private utility infrastructure (natural gas, electrical, street lighting, telecommunications), and surface infrastructure (roadways and back alleys, sidewalks, boulevards, and park spaces) to confirm the scope and timing of necessary upgrades.
• Flagstaff County will assess and document the levels of service and risks for its core water, sanitary and transportation services. This will ensure the County is operating on the principle of sustainability and that providing reliable services to meet the current needs of residents will not negatively impact the ability to deliver services to future generations.
• The Town of Crossfield will update its antiquated and inaccurate asset information and implement a geographic information system (GIS) to better track the data related to assets. This project will research an appropriate platform, procure a software solution and implement the solution with appropriate training for staff.

Details of all 25 projects are included in the backgrounder.

Quotes

"The COVID-19 health crisis has reinforced the importance of infrastructure that supports safe, sustainable and healthy communities. Everything from ensuring communities have potable water to internet access to park spaces requires good planning. The 25 projects announced today ensure Alberta municipalities have the tools and technology necessary to make well-informed decisions for the long term. Canada's infrastructure plan is resulting in thousands of projects, creating jobs across the country and building stronger communities."

The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister, Special Representative for the Prairies on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

"Rural communities are the backbone of the Canadian economy and among the best places in Canada to call home. Smart investments in infrastructure help smaller communities to grow, strengthen their economies and improve quality of life for their residents. Through projects like those announced today, our government is helping to ensure that local leaders, especially those in rural areas, have the tools they need to plan for the long-term and creating stronger rural communities now and for generations to come."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

"Municipalities of all sizes are Canada's builders. They own nearly 60 percent of the public infrastructure that supports Canada's economy and quality of life. With strengthened asset management practices, they are making infrastructure investment decisions based on sound and reliable data.  Supported by our strong federal-municipal partnership, FCM is delivering programs from coast to coast to coast that help municipalities in Alberta do what they do best: deliver solutions that work."
Garth Frizzell, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Quick facts

• The $110-million Municipal Asset Management Program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada, has invested in more than 830 municipal asset management projects.
• MAMP offers funding, training, and resources to help small and medium sized municipalities improve their asset management policies and approaches enabling them to make solid infrastructure investment decisions.
• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
• The COVID-19 Resilience Stream will help other orders of governments whose finances have been significantly impacted by the pandemic by increasing the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects in a variety of areas including disaster mitigation and adaptation projects and pandemic-resilient infrastructure.
• Furthermore, the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to help communities adapt spaces and services in response to immediate and ongoing coronavirus-related needs over the next two years.
• Since 2016, the federal government has invested $28 billion in over 18,000 infrastructure projects in communities with populations under 100,000. More than 6,100 kilometres of highways and roads, and 103 bridges have been built, repaired or upgraded in rural communities, and more than 3,134 projects are providing rural communities with access to cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water.

Associated links

Municipal Asset Management Program 
Infrastructure in your Community 
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
Investing in Canada plan project map 
Speech from the Throne: A stronger and more resilient Canada

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada