Pickering, Ontario, June 24, 2013 – Residents and businesses of the regional municipalities of Durham and York will now benefit from an expanded and improved water pollution control plant in Pickering. The Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) will better protect the environment, accommodate new commercial and residential development in the area, and deliver significant improvements in local wastewater infrastructure.
The plant receives and treats 90 per cent of the wastewater generated by York Region, as well as serving Pickering and Ajax in Durham Region. Thanks to a funding partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, the plant's capacity was increased to meet municipal official plans and now provides an enhanced level of treatment to remove higher levels of phosphorus. The expansion also included building a new, state-of-the-art solids handling facility, which eliminates the need to truck bio-solids to landfill.
"Maintaining safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure improves the environment and enhances quality of life for local residents," said Chris Alexander, Member of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel,Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "Our government is proud to invest in significant infrastructure projects like this one, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities in York and Durham regions, and across Canada." "Our government's infrastructure investments are strengthening communities and creating jobs for people across Ontario," said Jeff Leal, Minister of Rural Affairs. "We are pleased to have contributed to this important infrastructure project, which will support community growth, protect the environment and help keep our water clean for residents and businesses of York and Durham regions."
"The Duffin Creek WPCP is one of our most technically complex operations,"
said Roger Anderson, Durham Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "Because the goal of a WPCP is to protect the environment, incorporated into the design of the expansion were a number of advanced energy-recovery technologies, energy-efficient equipment, and air pollution control systems. The Regions of Durham and York have a long-term, environmentally-responsible, and cost-effective treatment plant on the shores of Lake Ontario."
"The expansion of the Duffin Creek WPCP is testament to the power of partnerships at all levels of government,"
said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "Both Regions are now in a position to service provincially planned and approved growth to 2031, we are protecting our water resources and we operate one of the most environmentally-respectful treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin."
The governments of Canada and Ontario have both contributed $46.67 million through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component for this project, while the regions of Durham and York also jointly provided $46.67 million, for a total eligible project cost of $140 million.
The Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component provides funding for major infrastructure projects that contribute, among other things, to cultural, economic, community recreation and tourism development.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. 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 1,000,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
These investments support Building Together, the Province 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 $85 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 additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's web site.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure web site.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
613-991-0700 marie-josee.paquette@tc.gc.ca
Damien O'Brien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Affairs for Ontario
416-326-3072
Joanne Paquette
Manager, Communications
The Regional Municipality of Durham
905-668-7711 extention 3732
Barbara Moss
Communications Specialist
The Regional Municipality of York
1-877-464-9675 extention 1237
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
