August 5, 2016
Governments of Canada and Manitoba Support Two Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects
August 5, 2016
GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND MANITOBA
SUPPORT TWO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECTS
Canadians count on effective and reliable municipal services, such as water and wastewater treatment systems, to assure a healthy environment for their families and to sustain a vibrant and growing local economy.
Today, the Honourable Brian Pallister, Premier of Manitoba; the Honourable Jim Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, and Minister of Natural Resources; and along with the Mayor of Selkirk, Larry Johannson; and the Mayor of the Rural Municipality of Gimli, Randy Woroniuk; announced more than $53.2 million in combined funding for two new wastewater treatment plants; one for the City of Selkirk and the other for the Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Gimli.
The City of Selkirk project will see the replacement of their existing wastewater treatment plant, and improve the quality of the effluent discharged into one of Manitoba’s greatest freshwater resources, Lake Winnipeg, as well as into the Red River. Along with improving the overall reliability of the wastewater treatment system, the new facility will increase in its capacity, and serve the City of Selkirk, St. Andrews and Lower Fort Garry.
For the Rural Municipality of Gimli, an expanded and modernized wastewater treatment system will improve the long-term reliability and performance of the existing wastewater treatment system in this Lake Winnipeg beachfront town. It will also help to connect additional households in Gimli to the current wastewater system while allowing for future growth.
Both of these projects will help improve the quality of effluent that is discharged back into the lake, protecting the quality of the lake and enabling citizens and tourists alike to continue enjoying this valuable natural playground for generations to come.
Quotes
“These projects will allow the City of Selkirk and the RM of Gimli to treat their wastewater to the highest quality nutrient removal and ensure the long-term health of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg. Our government is confident these investments will provide value for taxpayers and have a significant environmental impact in their communities.”— The Honourable Brian Pallister, Premier of Manitoba
“Water and wastewater treatment are essential building blocks for sustaining the growth and vitality of any community. By investing in new, more advanced wastewater treatment plants in Selkirk, Gimli and Virden, the Government of Canada is helping to protect our waterways, ensuring a healthy environment, and contributing to the high quality of life that Canadians want and expect.” — The Honourable Jim Carr,Minister of Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre
“Being good environmental stewards is a priority in the City of Selkirk’s strategic plan and a new wastewater treatment plant ensures the effluent discharged into the Red River is environmentally safe. The new plant is an infrastructure improvement that will build Selkirk’s economy and sustain the environment at the same time.”— Mayor Larry Johannson, City of Selkirk
“Gimli has a long record of balancing the needs of the community while being mindful of the protection of the environment and more specifically Lake Winnipeg. Expanding our treatment plant will allow for sewer services to become a reality for many property owners located along the west shore of Lake Winnipeg. In addition it will allow Gimli to be able to service future commercial and Industrial businesses. Gimli is open for business and will be able to provide the services that new and current businesses require.”— Mayor Randy Woroniuk, R.M. of Gimli
“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) welcomes funding from the federal and provincial orders of government for the City of Selkirk and the RM of Gimli. These projects will greatly benefit our members and improve quality of water and wastewater infrastructure in these communities. Our association will continue to advocate for a Fair Share and a Fair Say for municipal infrastructure for all 137 AMM members.”—Chris Goertzen, president, Association of Manitoba Municipalities
Quick Facts
• For the Selkirk wastewater treatment plant project, the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba are each contributing up to $11,733,333 under the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects (PTIC-NRP), representing two-thirds of the estimated $35.2 million total eligible project cost. The City of Selkirk will provide the balance of the funding.
• For the Gimli wastewater treatment plant project, the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba are each contributing up to $6 million under the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects (PTIC-NRP), representing two-thirds of the estimated $18 million total eligible project cost. The Rural Municipality of Gimli will provide the balance of the funding.
• The funding for the two wastewater projects is in addition to a recent announcement under the Canadian Water and Wastewater Fund on July 25, where 23 other community wastewater systems across the province received funding.
Associated links
For more information on the new $120-billion infrastructure plan, Investing in Canada, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/index-eng.html.
For federal infrastructure investments in Manitoba, visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/mb-eng.html.
Information on Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects (PTIC-NRP) can be found at www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html.
Information on the new Building Canada Plan is at www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.
Participate in infrastructure planning at www.infraconsults.ca/.
To apply for infrastructure funding in Manitoba, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/ia/single_window_intake.html.
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The Province of Manitoba is distributing this new release on behalf of the governments of Canada and Manitoba, the City of Selkirk and the Rural Municipality of Gimli.