December 18, 2007
Fannystelle, Manitoba
The Rural Municipality of Grey is benefiting from an infrastructure project jointly announced today by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba. Funding for the project through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) exceeds $650,000 and is based on equal contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the local government.
The announcement was made today by Drew Caldwell, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Brandon-East, on behalf of the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation; and by Brian Pallister, Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, 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.
"This important infrastructure project in Fannystelle, in the RM of Grey, will help resolve a number of issues with the present municipal system and which will also ensure better disposal of water for the future," said MLA Drew Caldwell.
"The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership to build and modernize Canada's infrastructure, and strengthen our communities," said MP Brian Pallister. "This joint investment of $657,000 for the new municipal wastewater system in Fannystelle is another step toward a greener Manitoba, safer water and a healthier community for future generations."
The RM of Grey, located 75 km southwest of Winnipeg, will benefit from $657,000 to construct a new municipal wastewater system in the Village of Fannystelle. This project will eliminate health risks associated with current practices being used in the operation of private wastewater disposal, including pumping grey water onto ground surfaces and overloading of septic fields.
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 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. "The Village of Fannystelle will benefit greatly from the installation of the Municipal Wastewater System being announced today. 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 these types of projects in the future."
"Protecting the environment is a top priority for the NACC," said Reg Meade, President of the Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC). "We are proud to support this wastewater project through the FPLCC."
The initial Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (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: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ and http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/.
For more information, contact:
Jana Lerner, Communications CoordinatorCanada-Manitoba Infrastructure SecretariatWinnipeg, Manitoba(204) 945-8778Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/
John Thorpe, Communications CoordinatorGovernment of ManitobaWinnipeg, Manitoba(204) 945-4997http://www.gov.mb.ca/
Lee Gregg, Communications OfficerWestern Economic Diversification CanadaWinnipeg, Manitoba(204) 983-983-0701
