Canada And Saskatchewan Announce 23 Green And Recreation Infrastructure Projects Across The Province

Released on June 23, 2021

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan continue to invest in infrastructure during this extraordinary time to enhance citizens' quality of life, meet the needs of communities and create jobs to address the impact of COVID-19.

Today, Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Saskatchewan's Government Relations Minister Don McMorris, announced more than $81.2 million in joint funding for 23 infrastructure projects across the province.  The projects are funded under the Community, Culture, Recreation and Green Infrastructure Streams of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Thanks to this investment, Esterhazy, Unity, Meadow Lake and other communities will benefit from improved access to reliable potable water services.  Wastewater treatment facilities will be upgraded and expanded in Humboldt, Oxbow and Grenfell.  Other communities will benefit from projects that deal with the decommissioning of landfills or flood prevention projects.  Recreation projects include upgrades to the Rexentre Arena in Fort Qu'Appelle used by many communities in the area.

Providing communities with reliable and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments.  The Government of Canada is investing more than $44.3 million in these projects.  For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met.  The Government of Saskatchewan is also contributing over $36.9 million toward these projects.  Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are $29.5 million.  In total, this represents a combined infrastructure investment of more than $110.7 million.  Funding recipients are responsible for any additional project costs.

"This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together," said Carr.  "The $44 million in federal funding announced today, along with the provincial and municipal funding, will help ensure communities across Saskatchewan have reliable services and recreation infrastructure for years to come.  The funding announced today will help communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities."

"The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest more than $36 million to support upgrades to water and wastewater systems, improve recreational facilities and decommission historic landfills to safeguard the environment," McMorris said.  "These infrastructure projects will help protect local economies, which are continuing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.  In the end, the ICIP program and these projects across the province are building better, stronger and safer communities for the future of Saskatchewan."

"This is absolutely phenomenal for our community and area," Esterhazy Mayor Grant Forster said.  "Thanks to this investment from the federal and provincial governments toward this important infrastructure, we'll be able to proceed with our regional water system project.  Once the work is completed, this project will improve the quality of water for our residents, position the town for growth, and give our treatment facility the capacity to provide potable water to help our neighbours in surrounding communities and the rural area."

"We're grateful to be receiving this funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan toward our Rexentre project," Fort Qu'Appelle Mayor Gus Lagace said.  "The various upgrades planned will extend the service life of this important community hub that's not only used by Fort Qu'Appelle residents, but many other communities in the region."

Quick facts:

• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33 billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure.  Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. 
• Through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects.
• The COVID-19 Resilience Stream allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent in projects that support provinces, and up to 100 per cent in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.
• Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing 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. 
• In Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada has invested more than $924 million in over 520 infrastructure projects since 2015 under the Investing in Canada Plan.

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

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For more information, contact:

Michelle Johnston
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Phone: 613-298-7386
Email: michelle.johnston@infc.gc.ca

Dan Palmer
Government Relations
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7151
Email: dan.palmer@gov.sk.ca

Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca