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February 28, 2009
For immediate release
Community of Tignish to Benefit From Infrastructure Funding
Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour
Residents of Tignish will benefit from infrastructure improvements thanks to joint investments by the governments of Canada, Prince Edward Island and the Community of Tignish through the Prince Edward Island Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund.
Federal, provincial and municipal funding of $144,092 for the Tignish projects was announced today by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities, and the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), with the Honourable Neil LeClair, on behalf of the Honourable Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, joined by Mr. Elmer Arsenault, Chairperson of the Tignish Community Council.
This support, to develop a second well field site and to perform upgrades to the lagoon, demonstrates the commitment of governments to strengthening the Island economy by creating jobs for Islanders and getting shovels in the ground sooner. These projects will enhance local facilities and services, and create local jobs at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest.
“The Government of Canada, through the PEI Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund, is very proud to partner in projects that will provide modern and reliable infrastructure for Tignish,” said Minister Shea. “This investment will not only lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth, but will also provide residents with a healthier, safer and more prosperous community.”
“Sustainable infrastructure is key to creating a vibrant, healthy community,” said Minister LeClair. “Our Government is proud to be supporting these projects, which will lead to improving our environment, as well as providing a high quality and quantity of potable water for the residents of Tignish. Through infrastructure investments, we are committed to do all we can to create a stronger, safer, one Island community.”
“The new well field site development and the upgrades to the lagoon are essential projects for our community,” said Mr. Elmer Arsenault. “This investment will allow us to expand our utility and ensure that residents have access to clean water. I want to thank the federal and provincial governments for their investment into our community.”
The governments of Canada and PEI are working together to provide more long-term and predictable infrastructure funding, as well as more streamlined programs. On July 14, 2008, both governments committed to invest more than $22 million of matching investments through the Fund to provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs and priorities across the Island and to support stronger, safer and better communities. These investments will help stimulate the economy, create jobs, move people and goods more quickly and safely, and generally improve the quality of life for Island families.
The federal and provincial governments have taken the necessary steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Island communities for the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. To complete these two projects, the Government of Canada will invest up to $48,031 from the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund and up to $21,250 from the Canada-Prince Edward Island Gas Tax Fund. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, will fund up to $48,031. The municipal government will provide the balance of total eligible project costs up to $26,780. Thanks to these contributions, these projects are two of many across the province that will break ground quickly. For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit http://www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.
BACKGROUNDER
Lagoon upgrades:
The outlet manholes are key for maintaining the water levels at the Tignish Sewage Treatment Plant. Since the structure is 40-50 years old and deteriorating, this project will replace the concrete discharge manhole and the secondary corrugated metal discharge manhole, thus lengthening the life span of the lagoon. A secondary bypass will be constructed to enable draining of the lagoon for necessary repairs and maintenance.
The total project cost is estimated to be up to $50,592. The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island will each invest up to $16,864 through the BCF-CC. The municipal allocation from the Canada-Prince Edward Island Gas Tax program will be up to $7,500. The municipal government will fund up to $9,364 of remaining eligible project costs.
Development of a second well field site:
The Community of Tignish currently has one well field that services approximately half of the residents and cannot sustain the level of service to the remainder. A second well field site will increase the community’s capacity to add more customers to the utility and also serve as a backup if the first well field should ever be contaminated.
This project will fund the evaluation and provision of test wells for an additional well field site, as well as hydrogeological well drilling to determine the probability of a potential site to provide the quality and quantity of ground water required. Recommendations of the best wells for production will be possible once the drilling program is complete.
The total project cost is estimated at $93,500. Through the BCF-CC, federal and provincial governments will each contribute up to $31,167. Up to $13,750 will be covered by the municipal allocation from the Canada-Prince Edward Island Gas Tax program. The municipal government will fund the remaining eligible project costs up to $17,416.
