7 March 2009
Residents of Grand Falls and Saint-André will benefit from joint federal and provincial investments to improve local water and wastewater services. Combined federal and provincial funding of close to $6.3 million was announced today by Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique- Mactaquac and the Honourable Ronald Ouellette, provincial Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture. These projects are just two examples of both governments working together to strengthen the New Brunswick economy and improve the quality of life for its residents.
The projects will enhance local facilities and services and create local jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is critical.
“The Government of Canada is working together with provincial and municipal governments to deliver results to the people of New Brunswick through important water system upgrades in Grand Falls and Saint-André,” said Mike Allen, MP for Tobique-Mactaquac. “The federal investment of more than $3.14 million will make a difference in these two communities by improving the quality of life for the people who live and work there, and helping the local economy now and for years to come.”
Federal, provincial and municipal governments will each invest up to $1,250,924 in the Grand Falls project, which involves the construction of a new water reservoir and booster station. In Saint-André, each of the three levels of government will invest up to $1,893,678 in a project to replace the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant. Funding for these projects is contingent on completion of all contractual agreements, including pending Environmental Impact Assessments with municipalities.
“These investments will help ensure that New Brunswick communities have quality infrastructure to protect the environment and residents' health and wellness," said Ouellette. “Ensuring that we have strong infrastructure is vital in order for New Brunswick to remain positioned to be self-sufficient.” Ouellette spoke on behalf of Environment Minister Roland Hache.
The Grand Falls project involves the construction of a new steel water reservoir, tri-pump booster station and transmission main as well as the installation of a new standby generator for backup during power interruptions. The project will improve service reliability for water treatment and distribution, and increase fire-protection capabilities as well as improve local water quality for residents.
The Saint-André project involves the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant to replace the existing facility and the redirecting to the new plant of approximately 50 per cent of the community’s wastewater, currently being processed by Grand Falls. Wastewater treatment in the new facility will be provided by an aeration system and deflection walls, which will divide the pond into three cells with a watertight membrane.
These projects are two of 32 across the province that will get underway quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of more than $38 million. Together with municipal contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in New Brunswick during this first phase exceeds $57 million. The governments of Canada and New Brunswick have taken steps to advance projects and flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in New Brunswick communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Residents of Grand Falls and Saint-André will benefit from joint federal and provincial investments to improve local water and wastewater services. Combined federal and provincial funding of close to $6.3 million under the communities component of the Building Canada Fund was announced today by Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac and the Honourable Ronald Ouellette, provincial Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture.
Federal, provincial and municipal governments will each invest over $1.2 million in the Grand Falls project, which involves the construction of a new water reservoir and booster station. In Saint-André, each of the three levels of government will invest close to $1.9 million in a project to replace the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant. Funding for these projects is contingent on completion of all contractual agreements, including pending Environmental Impact Assessments with municipalities.
The projects will enhance local facilities and services and create local jobs. They are two examples of the commitment of federal and provincial governments to strengthening the New Brunswick economy and protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for its residents.
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Bruce MacFarlane
Managing Director
Communications New Brunswick
506-444-4606
Paul CJ LeBlanc
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3310
