Two municipalities in Manitoba’s interlake region will benefit from a green infrastructure project jointly announced today by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba.  Funding for this project through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) exceeds $2.7 million.

The announcement was made by the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.

"Safe drinking water and sound environmental practices are important to Canada’s New Government,” said Minister Toews on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “These projects will have a tangible impact on communities - protecting our environment and ensuring our communities remain healthy places to live for generations to come.”

“The Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund helps local communities with their green infrastructure projects,” said Minister Lemieux. “The Province is pleased to be part of this initiative.”

The project announced in the interlake region is part of a larger group of 15 rural and northern Manitoba infrastructure projects worth $22 million being announced through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund over the week by both levels of government. The approved projects focus largely on green infrastructure for water and wastewater systems throughout the province and one broadband connectivity project.

The infrastructure project announced today for Manitoba’s interlake region consists of  an upgrade to the wastewater treatment lagoon for the RMs of Rosser and Rockwood  to service a larger area, which includes Grosse Isle and the townsites of Rosser and Gordon.

MRIF project approvals are based on recommendations from its Rural/Northern Federal-Provincial-Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC). The projects announced result from applications received under the third and final rural and northern project application intake deadline of June 15, 2006. The FPLCC consists of local government representatives from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Northern Association of Community Councils. The FPLCC was created to provide input in the MRIF project selection process.

“The AMM is pleased to be a part of a successful partnership bringing much-needed infrastructure investments to Manitoba communities,” said Ron Bell, AMM President. “We are particularly pleased to see the lagoon project for the RM’s of Rosser and Rockwood receive funding that will address a long-standing problem, the  project being announced today will have a positive environmental impact on this area. The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) has made a significant contribution to our members' infrastructure needs and I look forward to seeing more funds dedicated to this program in the future.”

“The project announced today carries a positive environmental impact for the communities and outlying areas,” said Reg Meade, NACC President. “These types of projects are establishing a healthy future for rural and northern Manitoba.”

The Canada-Manitoba MRIF is investing a total of $120 million in communities across Manitoba.  Eighty percent of MRIF funding is earmarked for communities with a population under 250,000, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated Northern Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining 20 percent is allocated for communities with a population of more than 250,000.  More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects is available at http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/.

For additional information, contact:

Jacqueline Petrus, Communications Coordinator
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-8778
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-4883
Secretariat Website: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/   

Mark Gale
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel.: (204) 983-0789

Graham Gork, Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-5795
MB Government Website: http://www.gov.mb.ca/