Released on September 20, 2013
Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, on behalf of Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Legislative Secretary for Regional Municipal Co-operation Kevin Phillips on behalf of Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter, joined Denare Beach residents today to celebrate the grand opening of the northern village’s upgraded wastewater treatment plant, marking the completion of the $5.2 million project.
“Today’s opening reflects our government’s commitment to enhancing community infrastructure, while creating jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Clarke. “Our investment in the upgraded wastewater treatment plant will ensure that Denare Beach residents have a more reliable and environmentally sustainable waste water treatment system.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes how important infrastructure investments are to the quality of life for communities,” Phillips said. “It’s great to see multiple levels of government working together and partnering to build a better province.”
Through the Building Canada Fund-Communities Component (BCF-CC), the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan each invested $734,166 in the project to help improve the reliability of wastewater collection and treatment at the plant. The upgrades also improved the treatment of the effluent and reduced its volume.
“Today we can look forward to having a wastewater treatment plant that with normal maintenance will be able to serve our community with continued growth for between 35 and 45 years,” Northern Village of Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz said. “This facility has an enhanced processing system that will meet community capacity and regulatory requirements during its life. This will benefit the health of our community and environment.”
The Northern Municipal Trust Account, which is administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations, contributed $2.9 million through its Northern Sewer and Water Program. The Northern Village of Denare Beach contributed $36,198, and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's Capital Investment Fund, provided $753,120 for the balance of the estimated $5.2 million project. The upgrading of this facility will produce long-term benefits for Denare Beach residents, leaving the village with a legacy of modern infrastructure.
“It is important we partner with all levels of government to deliver high-quality public infrastructure projects that provide strong, reliable and timely services to our communities,” Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Councillor Clayton Sewap said. “Wastewater that is processed into clean, healthy and reliable water that can be released into our environment is what I expect for my community, and I am pleased we could work with our colleagues at all other levels of government to provide this most basic service.”
Under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund, the Government of Canada has invested in important projects across the west with matching contributions from the western provinces. Thousands of Saskatchewan residents are now enjoying the benefits of this significant investment to Canada and Saskatchewan’s public infrastructure.
For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcp-pcc-eng.html.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Phone: 306-975-5942
Email: joanne.mysak@wd.gc.ca
Dan Palmer
Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations
Phone: 306-787-2155
Email: dan.palmer@gov.sk.ca