Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to protect public health and the environment

News release

Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, May 25, 2021—The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities of the governments of Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador. But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than our personal health. It is having a profound effect on the economy.

That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.

Strategic investments in modern water and wastewater infrastructure will play a key role in ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador residents have access to reliable services to support healthy communities.

Today, Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame; on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced more joint funding for drinking water and wastewater projects in 21 communities in Central Newfoundland.

Grand Falls-Windsor will see the construction of a new ultraviolet disinfection building. This new infrastructure will benefit the community by increasing its capacity to treat and manage wastewater while meeting the provincial effluent quality requirements. Residents of 9 other municipalities will also benefit from upgrades to their wastewater infrastructure including new and improved lift stations, and water and sewer main replacements.

In addition, 12 municipalities will see improvements to their drinking water systems which include the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply mains and connections, new hydrants for improved fire safety, a new pump house building in the Town of Jackson’s Cove-Langdon’s Cove-Silverdale, and a new chlorination system in the Town of La Scie.   

Together, these improvements will ensure residents continue to benefit from safe and reliable water and wastewater services for years to come.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $5.5 million, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing over $6.2 million in these projects through the Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS) of the Investing in Canada plan. The municipalities and communities are contributing more than $3.4 million towards their respective projects.

Quotes

“Investments in essential public infrastructure are vital to building healthy and resilient communities. The upgrades to the water and wastewater systems in these 21 communities will ensure residents benefit from safe and reliable essential services for years to come, while also protecting the environment. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“We are always happy to work with town councils and our partners in Ottawa. This funding helps ensure that communities in our province have safe and reliable water and wastewater infrastructure.”

The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“Significant milestones have been reached in recent years in efforts to increase access to safe and reliable water and wastewater systems. Over three years, our government has approved approximately 300 water projects through $100 million in provincial  funding. The funding announced today for 21 communities throughout Central Newfoundland supports their efforts to improve their infrastructure and respond to their unique needs and challenges.”

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

  • Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

  • $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure in Canadian communities.

  • The Government of Canada has invested more than $521 million towards over 675 infrastructure projects across Newfoundland under the Investing in Canada plan.

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Contacts

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
chantalle.aubertin@canada.ca

Emily-Jane Gillingham
Manager of Media Relations
Transportation and Infrastructure
709-729-1758, 730-4607
emilygillingham@gov.nl.ca

Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca
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