NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO Residents and businesses in Niagara-on-the-Lake will soon benefit from improved wastewater infrastructure, thanks to a funding commitment from the Government of Canada.
“Our Government is investing in this project to protect the Great Lakes and contribute to the economic future of the Niagara region,” said The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. “A new, modern wastewater facility will help safeguard the environment for future generations by ensuring that water returned to Lake Ontario meets or exceeds treatment standards.”
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s current wastewater treatment plant was originally constructed in the mid-1960s and does not have sufficient capacity to meet future volume. Thanks to today’s investment, a new treatment facility will be built approximately 800 metres west of the existing one, and once the new plant is constructed, the existing facility will be decommissioned.
Pumping stations and force mains will be upgraded, and a wet weather flow treatment system will also be installed. These upgrades will increase the plant’s energy efficiency and help protect the environment by improving the quality of treated municipal wastewater for the Niagara region. This project will ensure sufficient treatment capacity to meet the needs of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s population for the next 20 years or more.
“The Niagara-on-the-Lake Wastewater treatment plant is a critical piece of infrastructure that has served the local community well for many years,” said Regional Chair Gary Burroughs. “Through the generous funding and support for this project provided by the federal and provincial governments, Niagara Region will be able to build a new, modern facility providing efficient and safe wastewater treatment services to the residents and businesses of Niagara-on-the-Lake.”
The Government of Canada is setting aside up to one-third of total eligible costs, to a maximum contribution of $14,426,667 for the project. The Province of Ontario has committed a matching amount, and the Region of Niagara is responsible for all remaining costs. The total estimated cost of the wastewater project is $43,280,000.
This project has been identified as a priority for funding under the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. Federal funding is conditional on the project meeting all of the requirements under the Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
The Government of Canada has engaged provinces, territories, municipalities and key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to guide the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan that will support job creation, economic growth and prosperity. We have heard that we are on the right track: there is a need for strong, sustained investment and we must continue to work together moving forward. To improve infrastructure across Canada and leverage new investment, our new long-term plan will encourage greater use of public-private partnerships, while respecting the capacity of Canadian taxpayers.
