Investing in Grand Falls and Saint-André Infrastructure

March 07, 2009

GRAND FALLS - Joint federal/provincial investments to enhance local water and wastewater services will improve the quality of life for residents of Grand Falls and Saint-André. Combined federal/provincial funding of close to $6.3 million was announced on Saturday, March 7, by Ronald Ouellette, minister of agriculture and aquaculture, and Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen.

The projects will strengthen the New Brunswick economy and create local jobs at a time when the need for economic stimulus is critical.

"The Government of Canada is working with provincial and municipal governments to help the people of New Brunswick, through important water-system upgrades in Grand Falls and Saint-André," said Allen. "The federal investment of more than $3.14 million will make a difference in these two communities by improving the quality of life for the people who live and work here, and helping the local economy now and for years to come."

Ouellette spoke on behalf of Environment Minister Roland Haché.

"These investments will help ensure that New Brunswick communities have quality infrastructure to protect the environment and residents' health and wellness," said Ouellette. "Ensuring that we have strong infrastructure is vital in order for New Brunswick to remain positioned to be self-sufficient."

Federal, provincial and municipal governments will each invest up to $1,250,924 in the Grand Falls project, which involves the construction of a new steel water reservoir and tri-pump booster station.  In Saint-André, each of the three governments will invest up to $1,893,678 in a project to replace the municipality's wastewater treatment plant. Funding is contingent upon completion of all contractual agreements, including pending environmental impact assessments with municipalities.

The Grand Falls project also involves the construction of a transmission main, as well as the installation of a new standby generator for backup during power interruptions. The project will improve service reliability for water treatment and distribution, increase fire-protection capabilities, and improve local water quality.

The Saint-André project will redirect to the new plant about 50 per cent of the community's wastewater, which is currently being processed by Grand Falls. Wastewater treatment will be provided by an aeration system and deflection walls, which will divide the pond into three cells with a watertight membrane.

These projects are two of 32 across the province that will get underway quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of more than $38 million. Together with municipal contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in New Brunswick during this first phase exceeds $57 million. The governments of Canada and New Brunswick have taken steps to advance projects and provide money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in New Brunswick communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.