FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP DELIVERS UPGRADES TO GRAVELBOURG’S WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Released on May 25, 2012

Representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, SaskWater, project partners and residents gathered today in the Town of Gravelbourg to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the town's water treatment plant.

The Town of Gravelbourg benefited from funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) to upgrade their water treatment plant. The MRIF funding was used to install and pilot test a new state-of-the-art filtration system, and the ISF funding was used to expand and upgrade the water treatment plant, construct a new service road and for associated works.

The upgrades will permit the plant to conform to provincial drinking water quality standards, and households will have access to higher quality drinking water.

"Our government was proud to support these upgrades to Gravelbourg's water treatment plant," said David Anderson, MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, on behalf of Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport). "This project will provide households in the area with access to better drinking water and help the water treatment plant meet future demands."

"I'm happy that the people of Gravelbourg will have a safe and clean source of drinking water," Saskatchewan Water Corporation Board of Directors Chair Glen Rittinger said. "This project is a great example of all levels of governments working together to achieve one common goal."

"The Town of Gravelbourg has worked toward a solution to our water quality issues for more than 12 years," Gravelbourg Mayor Réal Forest said. "With the assistance of MRIF and the ISF and great financial and technical support of SaskWater and its team of engineers we have now been able to realize safe, quality water for our current and future residents for many years to come."


This project involved funding from a number of contributors totalling approximately $6.4 million. Through ISF, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan and SaskWater each contributed more than $1 million toward total original eligible project costs of approximately $3 million. As well, the federal and provincial governments each contributed $250,000 under the MRIF program. Further, the province contributed an additional $1 million and SaskWater invested an additional $1.66 million in the project. The remaining funds were provided by the Town of Gravelbourg and the Thomson Lake Regional Park Authority.

As part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. In Saskatchewan, close to $117 million was committed to 155 projects in communities across the province.

Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 focuses on creating new opportunities for jobs and growth, and securing long-term prosperity for Canadians. Investing in public infrastructure is an important part of this strategy. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership, and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 750,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. To learn more about the opportunities in Economic Action Plan 2012, visit www.budget.gc.ca/2012/home-accueil-eng.html.

For further information on Infrastructure Canada's projects in Saskatchewan, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Brayden Akers
Office of the Minister of State (Transport
Phone: 613-991-0947

Gayle Zimmerman
SaskWater
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3729
Email: gayl.zimmerman@saskwater.com
Cell: 306-631-4930

Real Forest
Mayor of Gravelbourg
Gravelbourg
Phone: 306-648-3301

Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-960-9251