Better wastewater treatment for Port Colborne residents

18 new projects approved in six communities

PORT COLBORNE, ON, July 27, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Ontario are committed to investing in local infrastructure that ensures Canadians and their families have access to modern, reliable water and wastewater services that meet their needs. These investments safeguard the health and well-being of residents, protect waterways and preserve local ecosystems, while also laying the foundation for new economic opportunities to strengthen the middle class across the province.

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines; the Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure; Jim Bradley, Member of Provincial Parliament for St. Catharines; Alan Caslin, Chair of the Niagara Regional Council; and His Worship John Maloney, Mayor of the City of Port Colborne, today announced that a new project in Port Colborne has been approved under the Government of Canada's Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding for the Port Colborne's wastewater treatment facility?$303,333. The provincial government is providing up to 25 per cent of funding for this project $151,667, and the Region of Niagara will provide the balance of funding.

Thanks to this investment, residents of Port Colborne will benefit from an improved wastewater treatment plant. The project includes replacing aging components and introducing upgraded processes to enhance the capacity of the facility. These upgrades are essential to keeping our waterways clean and our communities healthy and livable.

In addition to these projects, over $5.8 million in federal funding for 17 water and wastewater projects will benefit five other communities across Ontario. The provincial government is providing more than $2.9 million for these 17 projects.

This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Ontario for Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.

Quotes

"Investing in water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to maintaining a healthy environment and providing access to clean, reliable drinking water. The Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories and municipalities across the country to support important projects like the Port Colborne's wastewater treatment facility, which ensure that Canadian communities are healthy and sustainable now and for years to come."

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Today's investments in infrastructure will benefit Canadians for years to come: creating economic growth and middle-class jobs now, while laying the foundation for durable growth in the future. These water and wastewater projects will protect the local environement and help keep our communities healthy for generations to come."

Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

"Building and maintaining high-quality water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure is an essential part of building livable communities. This announcement demonstrates the Province's commitment to partnering with municipalities in order to deliver the public infrastructure Ontarians need. I am pleased that these projects will contribute to enhanced quality of life in Port Colborne for years to come."

The Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance

"Ontario understands that public infrastructure improvements bring opportunities to communities, such as jobs, economic growth and benefits for residents. We continue to support water wastewater and stormwater projects with the investments they need going forward, so they can bring these opportunities to life."

Jim Bradley, Member of Provincial Parliament for St. Catharines

"Updgrades and repairs to important water and wastewater infrastructure in Port Colborne will enable Niagara Region to enhance the delivery of safe drinking water and protect our world-class environment across the region. Partnering with our federal and provincial partners, Regional Council's investment ensures that our infrastructure is ready to support future growth throughout Niagara."

Alan Caslin, Chair of Niagara Regional Council

"We are pleased that all upper levels of government have recognized the importance of upgrades needed to the Wastewater Treatment Plant here in Port Colborne. Wastewater treatment is an important process in our water cycle and these upgrades will ensure that processed wastewater is at maximum clarity before entering our ecosystem."

John Maloney, Mayor of Port Colborne

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada will invest 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.
• $21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Ontario is making the largest investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads, bridges, water and wastewater in the province's history ? more than $190 billion in public infrastructure over 13 years, starting in 2014?15. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Related product

Backgrounder: Canada and Ontario announce funding for clean water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Ontario

Backgrounder

Canada and Ontario announce funding for clean water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Ontario

18 new projects approved in six communities in Southern Ontario

A new list of water and wastewater projects has been approved under the Canada-Ontario Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) agreement, which is designed to improve the safety and quality of water for Canadian families, while supporting a clean economy.

The Government of Canada is providing Ontario with more than $569 million under CWWF, and will fund up to 50 percent of the eligible project costs. The provincial government is providing up to 25 percent of total eligible project costs, and the municipalities will provide the balance of funding.

As part of the bilateral agreement with Ontario, the following 18 projects across Ontario have been approved for federal funding amounting to over $6.1 million in total eligible costs. Additional projects in these and other Ontario municipalities will be identified in the coming weeks.

 Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/on-eng.html

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf/cwwf-program-programme-eng.html

Build ON 2017 Infrastructure Update: https://www.ontario.ca/page/buildon-2017-infrastructure-update

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada