Souris, Manitoba – Five communities in southwestern
Manitoba will benefit from four wastewater infrastructure projects jointly
announced today by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba.
Funding for these projects under the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (MRIF) exceeds $2.1 million.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Scott Smith, Manitoba Minister
of Competitiveness, Training and Trade on behalf of the Honourable Ron
Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation and the Honourable
Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf
of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister
of Western Economic Diversification.
“Thousands of homes and businesses will benefit from these wastewater
improvements,” said Minister Smith. “The Canada-Manitoba Municipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund is an important element in renewing our green
infrastructure throughout the province.”
“Canada’s New Government is ensuring that our communities
and environment remain healthy and prosperous for future generations,”
said Minister Toews on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister
of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
“Helping communities improve their infrastructure systems has a
direct impact on the quality of life for families and our government is
pleased to help support the communities in southwestern Manitoba”.
The projects announced in the province’s southwestern region are
part of a larger group of 15 rural and northern Manitoba infrastructure
projects worth $22 million approved under the Canada-Manitoba Municipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund by both levels of government. The approved projects
focus largely on green infrastructure for water and wastewater systems
throughout the province and one broadband connectivity project.
The four infrastructure projects announced today for Manitoba’s
southwestern region will upgrade current wastewater systems in five communities.
The rural municipalities of Strathclair, Whitehead, and Riverside in a
joint project with the RM of Strathcona will benefit from three different
projects to upgrade their lagoon systems. These lagoon upgrades will impact
more than 550 residences in the communities involved. Significant upgrades
will be undertaken to Souris’ wastewater treatment plant, allowing
300 new households over a 20-year period to connect to the town’s
system and 900 current households to have their wastewater treated to
a higher quality.
Project approvals are based on recommendations from the MRIF Rural/Northern
Federal Provincial Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC). The projects
announced result from applications received under the third and final
rural and northern project application intake deadline of June 15, 2006.
The FPLCC consists of local government representatives from the Association
of Manitoba Municipalities and the Northern Association of Community Councils.
The FPLCC was created to provide input in the MRIF project selection process.
“The AMM is pleased to be a part of a successful partnership bringing
much-needed infrastructure investments to Manitoba communities,”
said Ron Bell, AMM President. “The projects being announced today
will have a far-reaching impact on the environmental health of these communities
and their residents. The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) has
made a significant contribution to our members' infrastructure needs and
I look forward to seeing more funds dedicated to this program in the future.”
“Core infrastructure like water and wastewater systems are vital
to the overall health of rural and northern communities,” said Reg
Meade, NACC President. “The NACC recognizes that the Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Fund’s investment in the renewal of these core infrastructure
projects is an investment in a more prosperous future for our local residents
and future generations.”
The Canada-Manitoba MRIF is investing a total of $120 million in communities
across Manitoba. Eighty percent of MRIF funding is earmarked for communities
with a population under 250,000, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated
Northern Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining
20 percent is allocated for communities with a population of more than
250,000. More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects
is available at www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Jacqueline Petrus,
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tel: (204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
Secretariat Website: www.infrastructure.mb.ca
Mark Gale,
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tel: (204) 983-0280
Graham Gork,
Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tel: (204) 945-5795
MB Government Website: www.gov.mb.ca
