Canadians everywhere have felt the impact of COVID-19 on their families, their livelihoods, and their way of life. Canada and Saskatchewan have worked together to ensure health and safety, support families and businesses, and sustain local economies.
Investments in infrastructure for the Saskatoon area during this extraordinary time provide an opportunity to make public facilities and utility networks more sustainable, improve the environment and quality of life, and create jobs at a time when they are needed most.
On April 16, Jim Carr, the Government of Canada’s Special Representative for the Prairies, Saskatchewan’s Government Relations Minister Don McMorris, and City of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, announced more than $102 million in joint funding for 11 green infrastructure and COVID-19 resilience projects.
The green infrastructure projects include upgrades to drinking water and wastewater systems, improvements to solid waste management, sidewalk expansion, and a new solar power plant.
Several of those projects will help provide long-term reliable services to local communities while also contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
“These investments of more than $100 million come at a crucial time for helping drive economic recovery and helping position the Saskatoon region for a strong future,” Mayor Clark said.
Clark is very grateful for this support from both the federal and provincial governments as it will help imrove the community.
“These projects will improve our core infrastructure and ability to provide services, help make Saskatoon build toward a more sustainable lower-carbon future, and promote more health and activity for families,” he said.
One of the 11 infrastructure projects includes replacing three kilometers of the Saskatoon east potable water distribution pipeline. Doing that will continue to provide reliable and sustainable service to the communities of Allan, Bradwell, Clavet, Elstow, RM of Blucher, RM of Corman Park, and 21 rural water utility groups.
Three projects are receiving funding under the new COVID-19 Resilience Stream. Among those, the Meewasin Trail Enhancements project will increase the capacity and accessibility of the Meewasin trail network, which has seen an important increase in usage since the start of the pandemic.
“Meewasin recorded almost two million visits in 2020, seeing increased demand during the pandemic,” Meewasin Board of Directors Chair Colin Tennent said. “The planned enhancements are invaluable outdoor spaces where community members and future visitors can stay active, learn about the environment, and experience nature that supports physical and mental wellbeing.”
Providing communities with reliable, ecofriendly, and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $41.1 million in these 11 projects through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
“Through our collaboration with our provincial and municipal partners, we are funding important infrastructure projects in Saskatoon,” said Carr. “With the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, we are also responding to the impacts of the pandemic through flexible and accelerated investments in key infrastructure upgrades as quickly as possible.”
For the projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met.
The Government of Saskatchewan is investing more than $34.3 million toward these projects.
“Infrastructure projects like these, not only protect the local economy as it recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also helps build a strong and growing province,” said McMorris
The City of Saskatoon is providing $25.8 million to support seven of these projects.