Municipality of Greenstone Residents Benefit from Local Wastewater System Improvements

For immediate release — April 25, 2005

Governments partner to make infrastructure investment

GERALDTON — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Municipality of Greenstone today announced funding to upgrade the Geraldton Sewage System.

The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $3,129,100 in the project. The Municipality of Greenstone will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $9,387,300. The Government of Canada's contribution is contingent on the successful completion of an environmental assessment of the proposed project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

This investment, made under the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), will improve the quality of life for local residents. The project includes upgrading Geraldton's collection, pumping and treatment systems to reduce extraneous infiltration from an aging sewer infrastructure, and eliminating bypassing of untreated sewage.

"This project will improve the capacity and performance of the local treatment plant, which will improve the quality of service for residents and protect the environment," said Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario), Minister responsible for COMRIF and MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North. "The federal government is committed to supporting local infrastructure priorities that drive long-term economic growth." The Government of Canada's funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework, added Minister of State Comuzzi.

"Our government understands that the strength of the province depends on the strength of Ontario's communities," said Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North. "Today's investments will help make Ontario strong, healthy and prosperous."

"I am pleased that all three orders of government are working together to support the Geraldton sewage treatment system upgrades, which will improve our wastewater system and protect our aquatic environment," said Michael Power, Mayor of the Municipality of Greenstone.

Under COMRIF, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to improve public infrastructure in small urban and rural communities. The objectives of this initiative are to enhance and renew Ontario's aging public infrastructure, improve the quality of the environment, protect the health and safety of citizens, support long-term economic growth and build strong, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need.

COMRIF is a five-year, $900-million program that focuses on local needs through infrastructure improvements to provide clean, safe drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management processes, safer local roads and bridges as well as other health and safety priorities. Green infrastructure is COMRIF's top priority with 55 per cent of funding for projects involving water quality, sustainable communities, climate change, and innovation.

COMRIF Intake Two will be launched in the coming weeks through a public announcement and direct contact with eligible municipalities. All Ontario municipalities of less than 250,000 people are eligible to apply to COMRIF to improve their local infrastructure.

For further information on the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.comrif.ca.

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Contacts:

Michael Power
Mayor of the Municipality of Greenstone
807-854-1100

Andrea Kelly
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
416-585-7066

Sam Boonstra
Industry Canada
416-952-0468

Project Reference Number: 11507