Brockville, Ontario, November 2, 2012 – Brockville residents today celebrated the completion of significant upgrades to the city's Water Pollution Control Centre and the announcement of federal and provincial support for the second phase of the project.
"Our government is proud to invest in local infrastructure upgrades that create jobs, spur economic growth and protect the environment for future generations,"
said Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Thanks to this improved facility Brockville residents will enjoy cleaner water in the St. Lawrence River."
"The Ontario Government is making strategic infrastructure investments to strengthen our communities, support local economies and create jobs for Ontario families,"
said Grant Crack, Member of Provincial Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. "These critical infrastructure upgrades will protect the environment and improve the quality of life for residents of Brockville, now and in the future."
"Many people have worked on making this project a reality, and today, with the help of the provincial and federal governments, the effluent that the City of Brockville puts back into the river is cleaner than ever before,"
said Mayor David Henderson. "As more and more communities upgrade their waste control and treatment, the river is returning to a quality not seen in generations. This facility has the potential to serve the people of the entire region for many years to come."
The first phase of the project added a secondary treatment process to the Water Pollution Control Centre and constructed receiving facilities to accommodate waste generated by private septic systems. In addition, the facility is now able to treat more biodegradable waste and sewage. Phase two will upgrade the primary force main that leads to the wastewater treatment plant, as well as the associated pumping station. The project as a whole will support Canada's commitment to the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, while contributing to the overall health of the St. Lawrence River.
The Government of Canada is contributing up to $22,997,500 through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is providing grants and loans of up to $4.4 million from the federally endowed Green Municipal Fund (GMF). The Government of Ontario is contributing up to $7,669,200. The City of Brockville is contributing the balance of the $46 million total project cost.
The CSIF supports large-scale infrastructure projects that strengthen areas vital to sustaining economic growth and enhancing Canadians' quality of life. The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish the GMF. This fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,"
said City of Kingston Councillor Dorothy Hector, a member of FCM's national board of directors. "The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."
Investing in infrastructure is a key part of the Government of Canada's plan to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 822,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Find out more about the opportunities in Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 at www.budget.gc.ca/2012/home-accueil-eng.html.
This project also supports Building Together, the Government of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, Ontario has invested approximately $75 billion in infrastructure. Building modern, efficient infrastructure has created or preserved close to 100,000 jobs each year, on average, making Ontario's economy more productive and improving quality of life, now and in the future.
For further information on Canada's infrastructure investments in Ontario and to stay up-to-date with Infrastructure Canada Web feeds visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on the Green Municipal Fund, visit, www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund.htm.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit www.ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
416-325-0781
Conal Cosgrove, P. Eng.
Director of Operations
City of Brockville
613-342-8772 Extension 8205
Maurice Gingues
Media Relations Officer, Green Municipal Fund
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
613-907-6399 or mgingues@fcm.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
