June 22, 2015
Governments Congratulate Lake St. Martin First Nation on Historic Groundbreaking Ceremony
LAKE ST. MARTIN—The governments of Canada and Manitoba congratulated Lake St. Martin First Nation on today’s groundbreaking ceremony, which marks the awarding of a tender for road construction, ditching and piping for water and sewer that will bring 2011 flood evacuees closer to returning home, federal Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt, and Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson said today.
“We congratulate Lake St. Martin First Nation on the important milestone the community is celebrating today,” said Minister Valcourt. “We are pleased to partner with the province in this investment in road construction, ditching and piping for water and sewer, which is an important step in rebuilding the community. We are committed to working with the leadership of Lake St. Martin and the province to return all evacuees home.”
“This is an important moment for the residents of Lake St. Martin and I am optimistic that with this agreement and the tender process complete, we can move quickly to the construction phase and provide relief for the hundreds of evacuees who have lost their homes,” Minister Robinson said. “These investments are an important step in rebuilding the Lake St. Martin community. We look forward to continuing our work with the chief and council of Lake St. Martin to return all evacuees home.”
Today’s groundbreaking, hosted by the Lake St. Martin chief and council, was held at the site of their new community, and marks the awarding of a contract for road construction, ditching and piping for water and sewer.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba are investing a total of $19.7 million in this project, which is being cost-shared 50/50 between the two governments.
Since severe flooding in Manitoba in 2011 led to the evacuation of people from 18 First Nation communities, AANDC, the province and First Nations have been working on recovery efforts. Some 1,300 residents have returned to their home communities.
Negotiations with the three remaining First Nations along Lake St. Martin affected by the flood of 2011 continue.
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