Virgil, Ontario, April 11, 2008 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the Government of Canada will consider improvements to the sanitary sewer system in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a priority for up to $320,527 in federal infrastructure funding.
The federal contribution would be up to one-third of total eligible costs, which are estimated at $961,580.
"Maintaining a healthy and clean environment is directly related to the health and prosperity of communities and their residents, and is a priority for our Government," said Minister Nicholson. "Supporting improvements to Niagara-on-the-Lake's sanitary sewer system is one of the ways we will deliver results for residents."
"We are working to improve our local infrastructure and quality of life for our residents," said Gary Burroughs, Lord Mayor of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. "With this commitment from the federal government, we can ensure these upgrades to the sanitary sewer system are completed."
This project involves the rehabilitation of portions of the Old Town sanitary sewer system. The work is directed at preventing storm water infiltration and inflow during wet weather storm events and will reduce wastewater overflows to receiving waterways.
Funding for this project comes from the $200 million announced in March 2007, to top up the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) nation-wide. The Government of Canada is directing $64 million in funding to existing clean water applications under MRIF in Ontario.
Federal financial support for the project is conditional on the initiative meeting all applicable eligibility requirements and other program criteria, a federal review of the project, the successful completion of an environmental assessment, assurance by the municipality that the remaining project costs have been fully financed and accounted for, and the signing of a contribution agreement for the project detailing the project elements and any other federal requirements.
