The Village of St-Pierre-Jolys will benefit from infrastructure project funding thanks to the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). This joint funding exceeds $185,000 and is based on equal contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the local municipality.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Manitoba Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation; and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.

“We are pleased to support these local infrastructure upgrades that will see improvements to the sewer system to the advantage of not only the residents of St-Pierre-Jolys, but also to the surrounding area around Joubert Creek,” said Lemieux.

“The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership to create stronger and healthier communities in Manitoba,” said Minister Toews. “This joint investment of over $185,000 will help to ensure that St-Pierre-Jolys’ water and wastewater systems meet environmental standards and can support continued population growth.”

The Village of St-Pierre-Jolys, located 58 kilometres south of Winnipeg, will use the $185,500 investment to upgrade an existing sewage lift station and extend the sewer system with 420 metres of low pressure sewer mainline. The project will greatly reduce the likelihood of an overflow of untreated wastewater into the nearby Joubert Creek.

This new green infrastructure project is part of $11 million being announced this fall to improve drinking water and to enhance the environment in rural and northern communities by upgrading the quality of water and management of water, wastewater, and solid waste. These rounds of announcements are based on recommendations from the MRIF Rural/Northern Federal Provincial Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC). The FPLCC consists of local government representatives from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) and the Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC). The FPLCC was created to provide local input and knowledge in the MRIF project selection process in rural and northern Manitoba.

“The AMM is pleased to be a part of a successful partnership bringing much-needed infrastructure investments to Manitoba communities,” said Ron Bell, AMM President. “The sewer system upgrade being announced today will not only allow current residents to connect to the municipal sewer system, but will encourage future development in the area. The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund has made a significant contribution to our members' infrastructure needs and I look forward to seeing more funds dedicated to these types of projects in the future.”

“This project was recommended by the FPLCC and accepted by both levels of government,” said Reg Meade, President of the Northern Association of Community Councils. “Protecting our rivers and lakes is an important priority for the NACC and we are proud to support this project.”

The initial Canada-Manitoba MRIF agreement, announced in December 2004, invested a total of $120 million in communities across Manitoba. This year, an additional $25 million is being provided to MRIF through matching funds from the governments of Canada, Manitoba and local contributions, as part of the commitment to help small communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional funding will bring the total federal and provincial investment and matching local contribution in MRIF Manitoba projects to $145 million.

Of the funds, 80 per cent are earmarked for communities with a population under 250,000, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated Northern Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining 20 per cent of funds are awarded to communities with populations over 250,000.

More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects are available at: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ and http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/.

For additional information, contact:

Jana Lerner
Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
http://www.infrastructure.mb.ca/

Lee Gregg
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0701

John Thorpe
Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-4997
http://www.gov.mb.ca/