PROVINCE COMMITS $1.1 MILLION FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL

The provincial government is committing $1.1 million in one-time funding to municipalities to help control mosquitoes.

"It's been a very wet spring and we know municipalities have a tough battle on their hands to keep mosquito populations down," Municipal Affairs Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "This is a way we can work with our municipal partners, and provide some needed funding to supplement municipal mosquito control programs."

The funding is available, up to $1.10 on a per capita basis, to all municipalities provided they have existing mosquito control programs with licensed pesticide applicators on staff or on contract and applicable permits in place.

Municipalities can access the funds for eligible costs incurred retroactive to April 1, 2010, through September 30, 2010. Information will be sent to all municipalities and the application form will be available on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs web site at www.municipal.gov.sk.ca. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2010.

Eligible costs include mosquito control activities such as source reduction and the application of larvicide, planning, larval site identification and mapping, surveillance and training.

Harrison said the province is providing one-time funding for mosquito control because of the wet spring and because by next year, the province will be fully funding its new municipal revenue sharing program, which will result in an increase of nearly $50 million in funding to municipalities.

"Once the new revenue sharing plan is fully funded, municipalities should have the financial resources they need to fund their mosquito control programs," Harrison said.

One-time funding announced today to control mosquitoes is in addition to the West Nile Virus mosquito control program administered by the Ministry of Health. While the incidence of West Nile virus has diminished significantly over the past two years, Health continues to monitor the Culex tarsalis mosquito which transmits the West Nile virus.

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For more information, contact:

Jeff Welke
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6156
Email: jeff.welke@gov.sk.ca