About $38.6 million in funding has been announced for a number of water and sewer infrastructure and transit projects throughout Saskatchewan.
A total of 28 projects are receiving the funding through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, with the federal government providing up to 50 per cent of the funds, at over $19.3 million. The province is investing $8.9 million and municipalities $10.3 million.
The announcement was made Thursday by Ralph Goodale, minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Donna Harpauer, minister of Government Relations and minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs. The funding is part of the federal government’s Investing in Canada effort towards public infrastructure.
Among the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund projects being funded are wastewater lagoon upgrades in nine Saskatchewan communities including Mervin, Carlyle, Debden, Halbrite, Ituna, Sedley, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Aberdeen and Esterhazy.
A force main project to McCarthy Boulevard Pump Station in Regina is one of the projects underway, with the feds contributing $7.5 million. Wastewater and storm water collection rehabilitation and upgrades are receiving $2.5 million and $3.7 million, respectively, from the federal government.
The Saskatoon projects include the Caswell Hill water main and service connection replacements for $3,125,000, the Holiday Park water main and service connection replacements for $2,000,000, the water main and service connection replacements for road program for $2,700,000, the Buena Vista water main and service connection replacements for $2,375,000, service connection line replacements for $1,500,000, water main lining for $2,750,000, and sanitary lining for $1,350,000.
There are also water treatment plant upgrades included for communities including Alida, Avonlea, Buena Vista, Craik, Kelvington, Kipling, Leader, Lipton, North Portal and Tantallon. Rosthern is also receiving $1,707,500 for a new sewer force main and lift station.
For transit projects under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, funding for Regina includes the Arcola Express bus route, the one paratransit bus addition spare ratio increase, transit customer service and safety, transit technology and software improvements, the addition of three new buses to the fleet, and transit fleet replacement (17 buses and nine paratransit buses), with the last item approved for funding in the amount of $5,473,003.
The Saskatoon projects include fleet renewal and upgrades in the amount of $12 million, as well as bus rapid transit indicative design and detailed functional plan for $3,675,000, bus rapid transit station and facility design and requirements, shelter improvements and network accessibility, intelligent transportation and data requirements, and the feasibility study of rail impacts on transit.
Moose Jaw is also getting funding for replacing conventional transit buses for $792,544 and Prince Albert is getting fleet upgrade funding for $614,386.
The latest announcements are in addition to $56.8 million in federal funding announced in Sept. for 10 water projects and 12 transit projects in Saskatchewan.
“Infrastructure is the foundation of the Canada we all want to build for tomorrow,” said Goodale in a statement, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
“This latest round of water and wastewater projects will protect the environment and keep our communities healthy and livable and will create well-paying jobs for the middle class. Equally important, the people of Moose Jaw and Prince Albert will benefit from an efficient, comfortable and modern public transit system that will get them to their destination quickly and safely.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to join with our federal and municipal partners to announce funding for 28 water, wastewater, and public transit projects across the province,” said Harpauer.
“These investments allow for continued growth in Saskatchewan communities and will improve quality of life for years to come.”
