Grand Opening of Water Pipeline Infrastructure in Saskatchewan

ELROSE, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - June 12, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, residents of west-central Saskatchewan celebrated access to higher-quality drinking water with the grand opening of the Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Supply project. The project includes a 42-kilometer long main water pipeline, water treatment plants, and 700 kilometers of connecting lateral rural water pipelines.

This new infrastructure will provide safe drinking water to nearly 2,500 people in rural Saskatchewan and to the Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park.

The mainline Saskatchewan Landing water pipeline was funded through the former Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund; with the Government of Canada and the Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Pipeline Utility (SLRWPU) each providing $10.19 million for the project.

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan also each invested $8.06 million through the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund (BCF-CC) for the lateral rural water pipelines project that taps into the main pipeline, as well as for water storage and a truckfill system in Elrose.

Quick Facts

• Since 2007, more than 150 municipal infrastructure projects have been funded by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan under BCF-CC, benefitting thousands of Saskatchewan residents and their communities.
• The Building Canada Fund is being replaced by the New Building Canada Plan, Canada's largest long-term infrastructure plan, which will provide stable funding for a 10-year period.
• Between 2014 and 2024, the Government of Canada will provide over $56 million in annual funding for municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan through the federal Gas Tax Fund.

Quotes

"Our Government has invested in these projects to ensure the region has the capacity to provide good-quality drinking water to its residents, now and in the future. This was a major undertaking and illustrates the positive impact of partnership at all levels of government. The expanded water supply system provides a solid foundation for west-central Saskatchewan to grow, creating jobs and economic prosperity."

- David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Consular, and Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands

"As Saskatchewan continues to grow, the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the importance of investing in regional infrastructure projects that contribute to a high quality of life for our residents, and lay the groundwork for future growth. We are pleased to contribute to the Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Supply project, which is a great example of what can be achieved when municipalities work together to address their infrastructure priorities."

- Minister of Government Relations Jim Reiter

"This project became possible because of the foresight and willingness of the councils of the four founding municipalities to work together on a regional basis. As a result of that cooperation, SLRWPU was able to partner with both the federal and provincial governments to secure the necessary funding to bring this large regional project to a reality. It assures the residents of the area that they have a safe secure supply of potable water. "

- Lyle Leys, Chairman of S.L.R.W.P.U. Board

Additional Links

- The New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html

- The federal Gas Tax Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html

Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD. Follow us on Twitter at @WD_Canada.

The West Means Business.

IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.

Backgrounder

In March and April of 2007, the Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Pipeline Utility (SLRWPU) was created as a body corporate pursuant to The Municipalities Act by a joint agreement signed by the founding municipalities: Rural Municipality of Monet No. 257, Rural Municipality of Lacadena No. 228, the Town of Elrose and the Town of Kyle. The SLRWPU then pursued two pipeline projects to bring potable water to west-central Saskatchewan and the R.M. of Monet arranged one water project.

Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF):

Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Supply Project

The Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Pipeline Utility developed a two-part regional drinking water pipeline system: one part to supply Elrose and area, and the other to supply an area around Kyle.

A new treatment plant, called the "North" plant, was built in the Town of Elrose along with 11 kilometers of pipeline in the Elrose region.

The system will also supply the Town of Kyle and surrounding area by a 31-kilometer transmission main, which extends north and south of the Town of Kyle. A "South" water treatment plant was built east of the Town of Kyle.

Water will be taken from the Tyner Valley Aquifer for the northern portion of the supply system, while the Kyle Aquifer will feed the southern portion.

Funding:
	Government of Canada (CSIF):	$10,190,000
	Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Pipeline Utility:	$10,190,000

The Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Supply project is one of four funded through the Regional Rural Water Supply Systems initiative in Saskatchewan, under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund Water and Sewage Treatment category. CSIF supported large-scale infrastructure projects to help sustain economic growth and enhance the quality of life for Canadians.

Building Canada Fund - Communities Component

Lateral Rural Water Pipeline Project

Seven hundred kilometers of lateral rural water pipelines connecting to the mainline water pipeline system will supply potable water to the Village of Wiseton, Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park and the Rural Municipalities of Lacadena, King George, Milden, Snipe Lake, Monet, and St. Andrews.

Funding to date:
	Government of Canada (BCF-CC):	$7,745,153
	Government of Saskatchewan (BCF-CC)	$7,745,153
	Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Pipeline Utility:	$8,052,651
	Village of Wiseton (Gas Tax Fund)	$17,661
	Government of Saskatchewan	$633,000

Wiseton used $17,661 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation towards its portion of the Saskatchewan Landing Regional Water Supply project.

The Government of Saskatchewan, through the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, provided $633,000 towards the Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park portion of this project.

Building Canada Fund - Communities Component

Water Storage and Truckfill Facility Project

The Town of Elrose and Rural Municipality of Monet required additional water storage. The RM of Monet wanted storage to supply a new truckfill station it is building through this project to provide water for its residents who may not connect to the lateral water pipelines, or in case the lateral pipeline is out of commission for any reason.

Funding to date:
	Government of Canada (BCF-CC):	$320,000
	Government of Saskatchewan (BCF-CC)	$320,000
	Rural Municipality of Monet:	$321,325

Building Canada Fund - Communities Component:

• Since 2007, more than 150 municipal infrastructure projects have been funded by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan under BCF-CC, benefitting thousands of Saskatchewan residents and their communities.
• The Building Canada Fund is being replaced by the New Building Canada Plan.
• The Government of Canada's New Building Canada Plan is helping to finance the construction, rehabilitation and enhancement of public infrastructure across Canada.
• The Plan builds on this government's unprecedented investments in infrastructure, including $53 billion in new and existing funding for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure over 10 years.
• Combined with investments in federal infrastructure and First Nations infrastructure, total federal spending for infrastructure will reach $80 billion over the next decade. This is the largest and longest federal investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history.

Government of Canada Gas Tax Fund:

• The federal Gas Tax Fund provides predictable, long-term funding to municipalities to help build and rehabilitate their infrastructure. It is a flexible program that allows communities to choose and plan infrastructure projects based on their specific priorities.
• Funding is provided twice per year, and municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, providing significant financial flexibility. These projects improve the local quality of life and produce jobs, which contributes to the economy.

Between 2014 and 2024, the Government of Canada will provide over $56 million in annual funding for municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan through the federal Gas Tax Fund.