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Canada’s federal government will invest CAD 117 million in water security for Sunshine Coast

  • Canada’s federal government will invest CAD 117 million in water security for Sunshine Coast

Efforts to tackle the growing water crisis on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast have taken a significant step forward with a federal investment of more than CAD 117 million (about USD 81 million), according to a government press release. The funding, provided through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), will support vital upgrades to local water infrastructure.

Led by the shíshálh Nation in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and supported by Heidelberg Materials, the project will include modernizing the existing water treatment plant and constructing two large-scale water storage reservoirs. These reservoirs will enhance the management of water within the Chapman Creek watershed, which supplies water to approximately 76% of Sunshine Coast residents. The improvements aim to mitigate the impacts of recurring drought conditions and provide a more sustainable water supply for the community.

“This transformative project will alleviate the longstanding annual water shortages facing the Sunshine Coast that are becoming increasingly severe with a changing climate. This ground-breaking shíshálh nation-led project will be built and operated in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Regional District and ensure the availability of water for more than three quarters of Sunshine Coast residents even in times of drought,” said Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country.

Lenora Joe, Ihe hiwus (Chief) for the shíshálh Nation, emphasized the importance of adaptation: “Climate change is impacting all of our lives and we must adapt. Through this project we are planning for future generations in innovative and thoughtful ways. We will work with climate change, collecting rain during winter storms and using it in the summer – we will change with the times.”

Alton Toth, Chair of the SCRD, highlighted the partnership’s significance: “This project will be transformational for both the Sunshine Coast Regional District as the purveyors of treated water for most of the region, as well as for our shíshálh Nation partners.”

The federal government has committed over $3.8 billion to the DMAF since 2018, with $2.75 billion already allocated to 105 infrastructure projects aimed at preparing communities for natural disasters, preventing infrastructure failures, and ensuring public safety.

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