PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
2003-07-11

 
For further information contact:

Isabel Turner, Mayor, City of Kingston, 546-4291 ext. 1400
Bert Meunier, CAO, City of Kingston, 546-4291 ext. 1245
Jim Keech, President, Utilities Kingston, 546-4291

CITY OF KINGSTON RECEIVES UP TO $25 MILLION TOWARDS
WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN KINGSTON

Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Allan Rock, and Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute up to $25 million towards improved wastewater treatment in Kingston.

	REALTED LINK BACKGROUNDER Read about the background information of this project.

"Investing in wastewater infrastructure is critical to the protection of our drinking water and is essential to the quality of life for all Canadians, and underscores the Government of Canada's commitment to a healthy environment and clean water" said Minister Rock. "Today's announcement goes a long way towards ensuring these benefits for the residents of the City of Kingston and other municipalities served by the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, and to enable Kingston to grow and prosper." The project will involve upgrading the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant from primary to secondary treatment level. This will significantly reduce dissolved contaminants in treated wastewater, ensure future compliance with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's Surface Water Quality Guidelines, and contribute to the environmental protection of the Great Lakes.

Industry Minister Alan Rock announced a $25 million grant to upgrade Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant Treatment Plant in Kingston on Friday [Photo: Paul Evoy]

The Honourable Don Boudria also offered his comments on today's announcement as Minister responsible for Eastern Ontario. "I am pleased that the Government of Canada is investing in this important local wastewater project," said "Upgrading the Ravensview plant will definitely have a great impact on the health and environment of our community," said Mr. Milliken. "The completion of this project will ensure the facilities remain up to standard which means a stronger, more efficient infrastructure for the City of Kingston that can support further growth."

The Government of Canada's contribution will be made under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Since its inception, 17 infrastructure projects have been announced to benefit Canadians in all ten provinces.

A total of $450 million in funding from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund has now been committed towards four major projects in Ontario. Through the Fund, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout Canada.

These investments are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. Its Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment, and built the funding for this initiative into the fiscal framework. The Government of Canada's contribution to infrastructure since 1993 now amounts to $12 billion.

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