March 19, 2009
$2.9 Million Investment to Benefit Burnaby

BURNABY - The provincial government is investing $2.9 million in Burnaby for public safety initiatives, planning for improved water and sewer infrastructure and enhancing local green spaces, announced Burnaby MLAs Harry Bloy, Richard T. Lee and John Nuraney, on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger.

Burnaby will receive:

* $2,900,678 through the Province's Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program. 

* $30,000 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the Taylor Park project.

* $10,000 in Infrastructure Planning grant funding to assist with the community's Kaymar Creek Integrated Stormwater Management Plan. This project will allow the city to explore upgrades to its existing computer management system for water and sewer infrastructure.

"We have returned 100 per cent of traffic fine revenues to Burnaby since 2004," said Harry Bloy, Burquitlam MLA. "Continuing this program demonstrates our strong commitment to giving local governments the resources they need to improve public safety."

"This grant will be a big help for the City of Burnaby," said Richard T. Lee, Burnaby-North MLA. "They will be able to hire more officers and create more public safety programs. It is a great investment in making our streets safer."

"British Columbia has 1,100 more police officers than five years ago," said John Nuraney, Burnaby-Willingdon MLA. "The $255.6 million in traffic fine revenues this government has returned to municipalities since 2004 has made possible 560 of those hirings."

These investments are part of the Province's commitment to help stimulate the economy, maintain stability and keep British Columbians working during the economic downturn.

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