By Chris Conway

The District of Invermere is submitting grant applications for funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.

The program is part of a federal government celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary. It provides $150 million nationally over two years to support the rehabilitation, renovation and expansion of existing community infrastructure.

District chief administrative officer Chris Prosser proposed a resolution to council at its June 9 meeting to take advantage of the program.

He proposed seeking funding for a library renovation project amounting to $200,000 and a legacy pathway system tying existing pathways and parks together. The pathway project is estimated to cost $500,000. Prosser noted that the two projects are shovel-ready, with plans in place and with supporting background information that can be submitted quickly.

Councillor Greg Anderson noted that the program provides only $150 million dollars for the whole of Canada. “If you’re not in the game you don’t have a chance,” he said. “But we have to manage our expectations too.”

Coun. Paul Denchuk asked why there was such a fast turnaround time for submission of the applications. Prosser responded that it caught the district off-guard with only a three-week window available to respond. He stated that successful grant announcements will commence August 15 so as to occur before the blackout period once the federal election is called.

“It guarantees that they are shovel-ready projects too,” said Mayor Gerry Taft.

“We’re trying to use this money effectively because we didn’t have a really big project,” said Prosser. “It can’t be used for the community facility as it’s not an existing facility or renovation.”

“It’s too bad that this is just a flash-in-the-pan quick little pre-election thing,” said Taft. “It doesn’t really have the dollars behind it.”

The mayor expressed his support for a similar but more sustainable grant program in the future that is geared towards helping smaller communities rehabilitate and refurbish existing infrastructure.

Council voted unanimously to proceed with the grant applications as proposed by CAO Prosser.

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