Powell River’s bid for provincial and federal funding partnership for the Haslam Lake water main has been rejected in the first round of applications.
During City of Powell River Council’s Thursday, August 20, meeting, Mac Fraser, the city’s chief administrative officer, said council had identified that the next major capital requirement for the city is the Haslam downstream trunk main.
“There is a need for replacement,” said Fraser. “The New Building Canada Fund is the amalgamated federal, provincial, municipal infrastructure grant program.
“We had confidence we had a superior application but, unfortunately, a letter confirmed we are not successful.”
Fraser said there is a second intake so Powell River’s application will remain with the New Building Canada Fund—Small Communities Fund.
Mayor Dave Formosa said the notification was disappointing.
“We thought we were in good shape because they told every community that they get one shot, one application,” Formosa said. “Those that were ready, which we were, were in good stead. It was passed over and I guess there were better ones out there. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the next one.”
According to the letter, the program received significantly more applications than could be funded. Patrick Livolsi, the provincial co-chair of the fund’s oversight committee, stated in the letter that the decision did not reflect on the importance of the Haslam Lake project, but rather, the degree by which the program has been oversubscribed.
Livolsi stated the program will have a second intake, although the date has not been determined.
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