Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations, announced more than $81.2 million in joint funding for 23 infrastructure projects across the province. The projects are funded under the Community, Culture, and Recreation Stream and the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Thanks to this investment, Esterhazy, Unity, Meadow Lake, and other communities will benefit from improved access to reliable potable water services. Wastewater treatment facilities will be upgraded and expanded in Humboldt, Oxbow, and Grenfell. Other communities will benefit from the decommissioning of landfills or flood prevention projects. Recreation projects include upgrades to the Rexentre Arena in Fort Qu'Appelle used by many communities in the area.
Providing communities with reliable and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $44.3 million in these projects. For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met. The Government of Saskatchewan is also contributing over $36.9 million toward these projects. Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are $29.5 million. In total, this represents a combined infrastructure investment of more than $110.7 million. Funding recipients are responsible for any additional project costs.
Quotes
"This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together. The $44 million in federal funding announced today, along with the provincial and municipal funding, will help ensure communities across Saskatchewan have reliable services and recreation infrastructure for years to come. The funding announced today will help these communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities."
The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest more than $36 million to support upgrades to water and wastewater systems, improve recreational facilities and decommission historic landfills to safeguard the environment. These infrastructure projects will help protect local economies, which are continuing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the ICIP program and these projects across the province are building better, stronger and safer communities for the future of Saskatchewan."
The Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations
"This is absolutely phenomenal for our community and area. Thanks to this investment from the federal and provincial governments toward this important infrastructure, we'll be able to proceed with our regional water system project. Once the work is completed, this project will improve the quality of water for our residents, position the town for growth, and give our treatment facility the capacity to provide potable water to help our neighbours in surrounding communities and the rural area."
His Worship Grant Forster, Mayor of the Town of Esterhazy
"We're grateful to be receiving this funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan toward our Rexentre project. The various upgrades planned will extend the service life of this important community hub that's not only used by Fort Qu'Appelle residents, but many other communities in the region."
His Worship Gus Lagace, Mayor of the Town of Fort Qu'Appelle
Quick facts
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To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
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Through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects.
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The COVID-19 Resilience Stream allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent in projects that support provinces, and up to 100 per cent in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.
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Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing 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.
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In Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada has invested more than $924 million in over 520 infrastructure projects since 2015 under the Investing in Canada Plan.
