Released on June 30, 2022
Today, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and Saskatchewan's Government Relations Minister Don McMorris announced more than $11 million in federal-provincial funding for 24 new infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan.
In Melfort, the active landfill will adopt a progressive closure plan. The existing waste disposal cells will be decommissioned and other measures will be taken to properly close the landfill and minimize any environmental impact. Eventually, the site will be returned to native vegetated land, which acts as a carbon sink.
The Town of Indian Head will close and decommission two active waste disposal cells at its landfill, while reclaiming over half of the site. The recovered area will be converted into a transfer station for residents to continue properly disposing of waste. The site will also be revegetated to help mitigate environmental impacts in the community.
Twelve communities, including Battleford, Kamsack, and Candle Lake, will receive an investment of over $3.8 million from the Government of Canada and more than $3.1 million from the Government of Saskatchewan. These investments will support landfill decommissioning projects across the province.
Additionally, the Government of Canada will invest more than $1.5 million toward local bridge projects in 11 communities including the rural municipalities of Garden River, Glen Bain, Harris and Lakeside. The Government of Saskatchewan will invest over $2.3 million. These projects will replace timber and concrete-over-timber bridges in communities with new structures or culvert installations.
"The investments announced today will help Saskatchewan’s nature, create new green spaces and help local residents get around their community," LeBlanc said. "In partnership with provinces and municipalities, our government is investing in the well-being and development of our communities."
"The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest more than $5.6 million toward these important infrastructure projects," McMorris said. "Once completed, these projects will help maintain a healthy environment, improve our provincial transportation network and position Saskatchewan for further growth."
"Thanks to federal and provincial funding, the City of Melfort is able to move forward with its landfill decommissioning project," City of Melfort Mayor Glenn George said. "Once completed, this project will help protect the environment and make Melfort and area an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family in the heart of east-central Saskatchewan."
"Environmental stewardship is a key priority for our municipal council as we continue to strive to make the Town of Battleford the best place it can be for all who visit and for all who call it home," Town of Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said. "Thanks to this investment from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan, we can better move forward with our landfill decommissioning project to make our community's future even greener."
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is investing over $4.8 million towards these projects through the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream and the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) as well as the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF).
- The Government of Saskatchewan is investing over $5 million.
- Funding recipients are responsible for any additional project costs.
- The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is providing $33.5 billion over 11 years for public infrastructure across Canada. Under this program, provinces and territories prioritize and submit projects to Infrastructure Canada for review. To date, the program has approved more than $20 billion for over 4,500 projects in communities across the country.
- Including today's announcement, 261 infrastructure projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan have been announced in Saskatchewan with a total federal contribution of more than $447.9 million and a total provincial contribution of over $297.7 million.
- Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day - ranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land.
Associated links
- Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html
- Investing in Canada Plan Project Map http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map
- Federal infrastructure investments in Saskatchewan https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-sk-eng.html
-30-
For more information, contact:
Jean-Sebastien Comeau
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
Phone: 343-574-8116Email: Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca
Dan Palmer
Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations
Communications
306-787-7151
Dan.Palmer@gov.sk.ca
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca