News Release

July 11, 2003

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO INVEST $25 MILLION TOWARDS WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN KINGSTON

KINGSTON (Ontario) - 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.

Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure Allan Rock (centre), MP for Kingston and the Islands Peter Milliken, and Kingston Mayor Isabel Turner, gathered in Kingston City Hall on July 11, 2003 to celebrate $25 million infrastructure funding announcement for the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

"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.

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 Minister Boudria. "The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of infrastructure investments in cities like Kingston that have an important regional economic role."

"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."

Kingston's Mayor, Isabel Turner, stressed the importance of this announcement stating that, "despite the fact that we are already facing capacity issues, based upon our original budget forecasts we could not begin this important work until 2008. This funding announcement will enable us to begin our work immediately, five years early, to improve the environment, and for that we are truly grateful. "

The Government of Canada will contribute up to $25 million towards the costs of implementing this initiative, currently targeted by the City of Kingston at approximately $80 million. The City will be providing the remaining funds over a period of five years, in the context of their Ravensview-Cataraqui-Harbour Front Environmental Upgrade project. Minister Rock and Mr. Milliken also announced that the Government of Canada would sign a formal contribution agreement with the City of Kingston to confirm this commitment within the next six months.

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.

For more information, please contact:

Selena Beattie
Office of Allan Rock
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 995-9001

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
(613) 948-1148

Anita Frankle
Office of the Mayor
City of Kingston
(613) 546-4291 ext. 1400

Jeff Garrah
Office of Peter Milliken
Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands
(613) 542-3243

Marc Roy
Director of Communications
Office of Don Boudria
(613) 952-4930

BACKGROUNDER

RAVENSVIEW WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT UPGRADE

Project Costs

The total cost of the project is currently estimated at approximately $80 million and will be jointly shared between the Government of Canada and the City of Kingston. The Government of Canada will contribute up to $25 million towards upgrading the City of Kingston's Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant from primary to secondary biological treatment.

The Need for Improvements

The Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant sewage works have functioned well over the years with basic improvements. However, upgrades are now necessary if the plant is to contribute to the protection and improvement of public health and the environment.

The importance of constructing secondary biological treatment has been highlighted in recent years with the undetermined effects of exotic contaminants, which may be found in sewage. As a consequence of more stringent provincial and federal effluent standards that protect the water users down stream, there is a need to enhance the treatment capability of wastewater treatment plants generally, but also specifically in this area.

Further, the amount of new development in and around the City and the continued decrease in combined sewer overflows reduce the available capacity of the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant.

As well, during periods of drought or low flow, it can be difficult for the plant to keep within discharge limits, especially for soluble contaminants. While the annual plant averages demonstrate overall compliance, it is unacceptable for the plant to discharge high contaminant levels for even short periods.

Increasing the capacity of the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant through an upgrade to secondary treatment will ensure continued growth and redevelopment of the areas it services. The completion of this initiative will greatly enhance the quality of life of the residents of the City of Kingston and contribute to the protection and health of the environment and water quality in Lake Ontario. Further, there is a need to now proceed with this project in order to ensure consistent regulatory compliance.

The Project

The Government of Canada's contribution will be used to advance the detailed design and construction of the project by four to five years. Funding will be used to cover engineering design, public consultation through the environmental assessment process and most importantly a large portion of the estimated $73 million in actual construction costs. The City, through Utilities Kingston, will be embarking in the immediate future with the necessary works to retain qualified engineering consultants to move quickly to complete this vital infrastructure upgrade.

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