Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach raises Prince Rupert infrastructure concerns once again as part of Parliamentary Committee session

Prince Rupert's water infrastructure woes and the current process of 
seeking Federal funding towards it was the topic for a part of 
Transport and Infrastructure Committee session in Ottawa on Wednesday

As Prince Rupert civic officials await word on the fate for their recent funding request for infrastructure assistance, the MP for the region has taken up their cause once again in the Nation's capital. 

This time with Taylor Bachrarch raising the infrastructure needs of a few communities in the Northwest as part of a Parliamentary Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities Committee session on Wednesday.

“Federal funding is critical given the magnitude of the water infrastructure challenge Prince Rupert faces   based on my conversations with the Minister, it seems he understands both the nature and urgency of the problem, which is promising. I’m going to keep pushing until the government confirms the funding is on its way.” -- Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bacharach in Committee yesterday

In his presentation to the Committee, Mr. Bacharach noted of recent provincial funding and the federal request from the City.  He also recounted for Minister Sean Fraser of some of the concerns from Mayor, Council and staff towards the aging water infrastructure and the worries its condition brings to the community.

In reply the Minister noted that he has been in contact with Mayor Pond and while he didn't make any funding announcement in the session, he did offer up an indication that progress on the file is being made.

"This is a great example of how what seemingly looks like a small project on paper can have an immense economic impact. So Prince Rupert, I'm sure everyone  around the table knows is home to a major major port that the entire Canadian economy depends upon.

To the extent that we have a disaster in the water or waste water systems in Prince Rupert, it's not just the residents, it's also the residents which is important in its own right.  

But it's the entire supply chain across the entire Canadian economy that could be impacted if people can't live in the community who work at the port.

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund was designed with projects like this in mind, where if something is to go wrong we want to protect agains the Economic consequences that would follow a disaster of the kind you have explained.

So I won't create a new pattern of ministerial announcements in the middle of a process that is playing out.  

But my sense is that the fund was designed with projects like this in mind and I hope to work towards a solution with you as the local MP as well as Mayor Pond and the provincial government. 

Because I believe that something of national importance such as the Canadian Supply chain demands the attention of all levels of government" -- Federal Cabinet Minister Sean Fraser on Prince Rupert's current quest for federal disaster funding for infrastructure issues

The Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP also spoke to some themes in the Smithers area as part of the day's commentary in Ottawa.

"In Smithers' case, if Environment Canada is concerned about compliance, its officials should put pressure on the Infrastructure Minister to approve their new treatment plant. The government has the ability to reduce the amount of pollution occurring, but we're seeing frustrating delays in the funding process."

Bachrach also noted of ambitions in Terrace towards accessing federal funding for housing needs.

"Because the housing crisis affects communities of all sizes, we need to ensure smaller cities don't get lost in the mix. It was a good to put Terrace's housing project on the Minister's radar and I hope he seriously considers what the City has proposed."

Minister Sean Fraser is new to the post, having been moved into the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio at the most recent cabinet shuffle over the summer,  the full discussion in the committee session can be reviewed from the video below:

Last month Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond outlined the approach the City has taken to date towards the Federal grant request, noting how some of the recent water works projects will be in a holding pattern until the city hears further word on their application.

Something which has seen a number of excavation sites around the city sit idle while the City awaits that  further word from the Federal Government.

More notes on the City's Infrastructure issues can be reviewed here.

Further background on the MP's work in Ottawa can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.