For Release
November 08, 2007
St. Malo, Manitoba – The Rural Municipality of
De Salaberry will benefit from an infrastructure project jointly announced
today by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba. Funding
of $1 million for the project through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) is based on equal contributions from the governments
of Canada and Manitoba, and the local municipality.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Vic Toews, President
of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President
of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental
Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification; and the Honourable
Ron Lemieux, Manitoba Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.
"The infrastructure project announced today represents an investment
in safe, good quality water for the residents of St. Malo,” said
Minister Toews. “Through collaborative efforts, the Government of
Canada is pleased to be addressing the infrastructure needs unique to
this community to support continued population growth. This is another
example of our Government’s commitment to getting things done for
Manitobans.”
“This is a significant announcement for the RM of De Salaberry
and the project will be good news for the citizens of St. Malo as it will
ensure sufficient, high-quality water for present and future needs,”
said Minister Lemieux.
The RM of De Salaberry, located 70 km south of Winnipeg, will use the
$1 million investment to upgrade the existing water treatment plant in
St. Malo. The growth in the community of St. Malo has impacted the existing
water treatment plant’s ability to meet required water demands.
This project will enable the community to supply safe, good quality water
to meet the demands of the expanding population.
This new green infrastructure project is part of $11 million being announced
this fall to improve drinking water and to enhance the environment in
rural and northern communities by improving the quality of water and management
of water, wastewater, and solid waste. These rounds of announcements are
based on recommendations from the MRIF Rural/Northern Federal Provincial
Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC). The FPLCC consists of local government
representatives from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM)
and the Northern Association of Community Councils. The FPLCC was created
to provide local input and knowledge in the MRIF project selection process
in Rural and Northern Manitoba.
“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. “St. Malo is a growing community and
the project being announced today will ensure safe drinking water for
St. Malo residents as their population continues to expand. The Municipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund has made a significant contribution to our members'
infrastructure needs and I look forward to seeing more funds dedicated
to these types of projects in the future.”
“Providing rural Manitobans with clean safe drinking water is
vital for sustaining growth in rural areas,” said Reg Meade, President
of the Northern Association of Community Councils. “We are proud
to recommend this project for funding under the Canada-Manitoba Municipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund.”
The initial Canada-Manitoba MRIF agreement, announced in December 2004,
invested a total of $120 million in communities across Manitoba. This
year, an additional $25 million is being provided to MRIF through matching
funds from the governments of Canada, Manitoba and local contributions
as part of the commitment to help small communities meet their pressing
infrastructure needs. This additional funding will bring the total federal
and provincial investment and matching local contribution in MRIF Manitoba
projects to $145 million.
Of the funds, 80 per cent are 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 per
cent of funds are awarded to communities with populations over 250,000.
More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects are
available at: www.infrastructure.gc.ca
and www.infrastructure.mb.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Jana Lerner,
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
www.infrastructure.mb.ca
Lee Gregg,
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0701
John Thorpe,
Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-4997
www.gov.mb.ca
