News Release

April 14, 2004

RESIDENTS OF STRATFORD TO BENEFIT FROM IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER DISTRIBUTION AND SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEMS

STRATFORD, Prince Edward Island - Residents of Stratford will benefit from expansions to the town’s water distribution and sewage collection systems. This expansion is possible thanks to a contribution agreement signed by the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island (PEI) and the Town of Stratford.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Member of Parliament for Cardigan, the Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs of Prince Edward Island, and His Worship Kevin Jenkins, Mayor of the Town of Stratford, today confirmed the signing of a $10.8-million joint funding agreement to support work on the water distribution and sewage collection systems. The funding will assist with the treatment plant expansions in addition to the continuation of upgrades already begun by the town to the water and sewage systems.

“The Town of Stratford has seen such incredible growth over a very short period of time. The forward-thinking town officials took the initiative to implement improvements to the water and sewage systems to ensure a clean and safe water supply for the people of Stratford,” stated Mr. MacAulay. “This agreement is an example of the new deal for municipalities at work in PEI. It also demonstrates how important environmental projects can happen when governments work together towards a common goal.”

"We are pleased to invest in this important community infrastructure initiative which will go a long way in helping to support safe water and sewer systems in the Town of Stratford," said Minister MacFadyen. "We are committed to working with Island communities to ensure improvements can continue to be made in support of future development and enhanced quality of life."

“Stratford is pleased to be able to work with our federal and provincial government partners to bring much needed municipal water and sewer services to Town residents,” said Mayor Jenkins. “Stratford residents have had more than their fair share of water contamination and the funding from senior levels of government is appreciated and necessary to allow the Town to provide these most basic services to our residents.”

The funding will be used to install approximately 21 km of water lines to service more than 770 homes and approximately 11 km of sewer service to over 280 homes, thus dramatically increasing the capacity of homes who have central water and sewer services. Other enhancements include upgrades to the sewage treatment facility featuring the addition of a second rotating biological contactor unit and secondary aeration, and the installation of emergency generation at the water pumping stations to ensure the supply of water during power outages. This $10.8 million commitment, which is part of a province-wide initiative, including Charlottetown and Summerside, will be equally shared by the Governments of Canada, Prince Edward Island and the Town of Stratford.

Through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island and municipal governments, as well as the private sector, work to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. The CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further sustainable growth. The fund will help make Canada a world leader in developing vibrant, creative and prosperous cities and communities. Since 1994, the Government of Canada has contributed $12 billion to over 20,000 infrastructure projects in Canada’s communities. This has helped leverage over $30 billion from all partners.

The Government of Prince Edward Island is investing more than $27 million toward infrastructure enhancements in communities across the province through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Infrastructure Program and the CSIF.

For more information on today’s announcement and related programs, please visit:
www.infrastructure.gc.ca
www.gov.pe.ca
www.town.stratford.pe.ca

Contacts:

Mary Johnson
Office of Minister of State Scott
(613) 952-1684

Jennifer MacLeod
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs
Government of Prince Edward Island
(902) 368-5829

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
(613) 948-1148

Robert Hughes
Town of Stratford
(902) 569-6251

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