Borden, Dalmeny, Hague, and Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation are among 30 Saskatchewan communities receiving grants from senior levels of government for municipal infrastructure improvements.
A joint announcement was made February 9 by federal Minister for Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef and Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Don McMorris that more than $13.6 million in funding was approved for Saskatchewan projects under the Investing in Canada plan.
The Town of Dalmeny is upgrading its water pumphouse to ensure reliable treated water distribution. The work includes constructing a new water pumphouse building with a below-grade concrete storage reservoir.
The $3,362,320 million project in Dalmeny is being cost-shared by the federal, provincial and municipal governments. The feds are contributing $$1,344,928; the provincial share is $1,120,661; and the town is responsible for $896,731.
The Town of Hague is receiving funding toward the closing of its municipal landfill. The project will cost a total of $646,558; with the federal government chipping in $258,623; the province $215,498; and the town $172,437.
The Village of Borden is upgrading its sewage lift station at a cost of $252,032. The work involves replacing existing pumps and associated electrical components. The federal government’s share of the project is $100,813; the provincial share is $84,002; and the village is contributing $67,217.
The Dalmeny, Hague and Borden infrastructure upgrades were approved for grant funding under the federal-provincial Green Infrastructure Stream.
The Veteran’s Memorial Hall at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation will receive a million dollar upgrade and expansion under the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream. The work involves expanding the building and upgrading its electrical and mechanical components, as well as a number of site improvements.
The total cost of the project is $1,056,706; with the federal government contributing $751,186. The province is ponying up $250,395 and the community is responsible for $55,125.
In total, the federal government is committing $6.7 million toward Saskatchewan infrastructure improvement projects, while the province is contributing over $6.9 million.
The projects include 13 bridge improvement projects, 11 water and wastewater projects, and six recreation infrastructure projects in the province. The total cost of the projects is over $23 million, with senior levels of government contributing about $13.6 million and municipal governments contributing almost $10 million.
“The Government of Saskatchewan invests in infrastructure to strengthen communities and stimulate the economy, as people across our great province work together to meet the challenges of COVID-19,” McMorris said. “More than $6.9 million of provincial funding will help these 30 infrastructure projects become a reality. They will improve quality of life and help continue to build a strong Saskatchewan.”
“It is only by working together with all levels of governments that we will be able to resolve the challenges facing rural communities across Canada, especially during the current pandemic,” said Monsef. “This is why we are announcing today a federal investment of more than $6.7 million to improve recreation facilities, rural bridges and water and wastewater systems across Saskatchewan. By investing in projects like these, we are helping to make our communities stronger, more competitive and we are contributing to our country’s economic recovery.
“Not only will these vital projects help create well-paying jobs during the construction phase, they will have long-lasting benefits for residents and businesses for years to come,” Monsef continued. “Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested $715 million in over 375 infrastructure projects across Saskatchewan to create jobs and improve quality of life. To support underserved communities with access to broadband, we have also invested over $27 million for 6 projects in the province, which will help connect more than 44,000 households to high-speed internet.”