Released on October 9, 2018
The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan recognize how important investing in modern reliable water services is to building healthy sustainable communities.
Today, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Government Relations Minister Warren Kaeding, announced more than $20 million in federal-provincial funding to upgrade electrical systems at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant. The remainder of the estimated $32.1 million project will be funded by the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, which is owned by the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw.
Work involves replacing the plant’s aging electrical substation, improving the power supply and upgrading the raw water pumps to prevent future electrical failures.
Once complete, this work will ensure the plant has a reliable and sustainable source of back-up power to minimize service interruptions and prevent drinking water advisories for the approximately 260,000 residents it serves.
“These vital upgrades to the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant will ensure residents of Regina and Moose Jaw have an uninterrupted supply of high-quality drinking water for years to come,” said Goodale. “Canada’s investment in this project underlines our commitment to protecting public health and our quality of life, all while bolstering economic growth and a strong middle class.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to be investing more than $10.2 million toward this key infrastructure that will benefit the residents and businesses it serves in Regina, Moose Jaw, and the region,” Kaeding said. “When federal, provincial and local partners all work together, funding for core infrastructure can go farther in our communities and help keep our great province strong.”
“I am pleased that the federal and provincial governments recognize the critical nature of this project,” City of Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said. “As a plant that serves the entire region, it is absolutely essential that we have a modern facility that produces the highest-quality drinking water for its customers, including the City of Regina. Our residents expect safe and reliable infrastructure, and we are committed to providing it.”
“This is tremendous news for Moose Jaw residents and all Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant customers,” Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie said. “The importance of a safe water supply can’t be over-stated, and we are grateful to the federal and provincial governments for their significant partnership stake in these crucial plant upgrades.”
“The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation is extremely pleased with this funding announcement of financial support by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan for the Electrical Capital Upgrades Project,” Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation Board Chair Dale Schoffer said. “These funds will be used to replace electrical infrastructure that has reached the end of its life and increases the reliability of the supply of potable water to the Cities of Regina and Moose Jaw and the Region we serve.”
Quick facts:
- Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
- $26.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are each contributing up to $10,291,000 to this project through the New Building Canada Fund–Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component–National and Regional Projects. The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation is providing the remaining costs.
- The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation is a non-profit owned by the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina. The facility provides water for both cities from Buffalo Pound Lake.
- 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: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/sk-eng.html
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For more information, contact:
Ann-Clara Vaillancourt
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Ottawa
Phone: 613-697-3778
Email: ann-clara.vaillancourt@canada.ca
Dan Palmer
Government Relations
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7151
Email: dan.palmer@gov.sk.ca
Craig Hemingway
City of Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-4406
Email: chemingway@moosejaw.ca
Desirae Bernreuther
City of Regina
Regina
Phone: 306-777-7486
Email: dbernreu@regina.ca
Ryan Johnson
Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation
Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant
Phone: 306-694-1377, ext. 230
Email: ryanj@buffalopoundwtp.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca