City of North Bay Residents Benefit from Local Water System Improvements

For immediate release — April 25, 2005

Governments partner to make infrastructure investment

NORTH BAY — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the City of North Bay today announced funding to construct a new water filtration plant.

The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $14,988,333 in the project. The City of North Bay will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $44,965,000. 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 provide clean, safe drinking water and improved quality of life for local residents. The City of North Bay will construct a new membrane filtration water treatment plant to be connected to the city's existing water system. The new plant will replace current treatment facilities with modern, energy-efficient equipment, as well as state-of-the art controls.

"Improved, upgraded and more reliable water infrastructure not only builds a safer community, but it also ensures the necessary infrastructure is in place to support future economic growth and development," said Anthony Rota, MP for Nipissing–Timiskaming. "This is a crucial initiative for the health and well-being of North Bay residents." 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 Mr. Rota.

"Our government believes that every person in Ontario should have safe, clean water, and we are pleased to join with our federal and municipal partners to construct a new water filtration plant in North Bay," said Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing. "This is an example of our government's commitment to building strong communities – one of the ways we are delivering real, positive change that will make northern and rural Ontario strong, healthy and prosperous."

"The investment by the federal and provincial, and municipal governments in our new water filtration plant is wonderful news for our community," said Victor Fedeli, Mayor of the City of North Bay. "This trilateral investment will have a positive impact on the economic development of our City and protect the health and safety of our residents."

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:

Victor Fedeli
Mayor of the City of North Bay
705-474-0626

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

Sam Boonstra
Industry Canada
416-952-0468

Project Reference Number: 11670