Archived News Releases

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Nearly 3000 residents in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot will soon have an improved water supply once a project funded by the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program is completed. The $6 million funding required for the project will be shared equally by the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba and the Rural Municipality of Ritchot at the cost of $2 million each.

Jean Friesen, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for Manitoba, and
Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)(Francophonie) were in St. Adolphe to make the announcement today.

"The program enables our three levels of government to pool resources to address an urgent situation for the residents of St. Adolphe and Ile-des-Chênes," said Minister Friesen. "Through strategic use of these resources we can respond to community needs and undertake projects that enhance the lives of Manitobans."

"Safe drinking water is a basic quality of life issue, something that Canadians should expect," underlined Minister Duhamel. "The Government of Canada is committed to working with the province and municipalities to ensure Manitobans have access to clean water."

"This announcement is absolutely the very best news for our municipality," said Bob Stefaniuk, Mayor of the RM of Ritchot. "By working together with the governments of Canada and Manitoba, through the Infrastructure Program, Ritchot will not only have a safe source of drinking water but also long term economic stability. Boil water advisories put quite a bit of strain on residents, we look forward to drinking from our faucets again."

"This is a very important project," said Wayne Motheral, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and a member of the Rural/Northern Federal Provincial Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC). "For this first round, green municipal infrastructure is the top priority for our committee. At a local level, this is what it's all about."

The project involves construction of rural water supply pipelines, community water distribution piping, and associated reservoir and pumping facilities. The result will be treated potable water provided to areas currently served by individual wells in a contaminated aquifer. Boil water orders were issued by Medical Officers of Health on August 31, 2000 in Ile-des-Chênes and October 10, 2000 in St. Adolphe. The new regional system will see water from the Ste. Agathe water treatment plant used to supply more than 700 households in Ile-des-Chênes, St. Adolphe and nearby rural areas. Construction is expected to be complete in 2002.

On October 11, 2000, the governments of Canada and Manitoba entered into a new Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program, bringing over $180 million in infrastructure opportunities to Manitoba over a six-year period. To date, 64 projects have been announced representing a total investment of over $29 million in Manitoba. Sixty-three of the projects fall under the program's first priority, green municipal infrastructure, primarily dealing with drinking water, sewage and waste disposal. This includes funding announced in April for projects addressing drinking water advisories in Balmoral and Haywood, Manitoba.

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