Manitoba gets 27 infrastructure projects approved for funding

On July 25th MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, and Eileen Clarke, Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations, announced a bilateral agreement, marking a critical step in making more than $178 million in federal infrastructure funding available under two new federal programs – the Public Transit Fund and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Fund.

The agreement is part of Phase 1 of the 10-year Investing in Canada plan, which will help lay the foundation for the longer-term federal investment strategy.

Also announced was the approval of an initial list of 27 projects under the two new funding programs, representing $101.9 million in federal funding alone. Together with provincial and municipal contributions, more than $205 million in combined funding is available to Manitoba municipalities to support these public transit, water and wastewater projects.

Of these projects, the federal government is providing $52.9 million through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and Manitoba is providing $26.5 million for four projects. The funds will support projects such as upgrades to Winnipeg’s public transit facilities and buses, which will help enhance rider experience, increase reliability, safety, accessibility and efficiency, and improve the environmental outcomes of the City’s transit system.

It also provides $49 million in federal funding through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and $24.5 million in provincial funding to support 23 projects, such as the construction of a new reservoir and pump house in the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul which will allow them to collect water from the new Cartier Regional Water Co-op system.

By working together with municipalities, as well as the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the Province of Manitoba is identifying infrastructure priorities to build a better, stronger, more prosperous Manitoba. Provincial funding of $51 million for these projects will come from the Building Manitoba Fund.

Additional projects under both funds are expected to be prioritized by the province in coming months after an application intake has taken place.

Quick facts

• This funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada’s historic $120-billion plan to support public infrastructure across the country over the next 10 years.
• Phase 1 of Investing in Canada will provide well over $10 billion in investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects, and social infrastructure projects. Details on Phase 2 of Investing in Canada will be announced over the next year.
• The funding will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, both of which will be managed through agreements between the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments.
• Under this agreement, the Government of Canada has made its funding retroactive to April 1, 2016, so projects can proceed without delay to ensure a productive construction season.