News Release

October 7, 2005

Completion of Secondary Treatment Facility Project Benefits Environment and Citizens of Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – October 7, 2005 –– City of Thunder Bay residents today participated today in the official opening ceremony to mark completion the achievement of the upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant, a project funded under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). 

The Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North, and Lynn Peterson, Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay, were pleased to see this important project come to completion.

The City of Thunder Bay constructed the Secondary Sewage Treatment facility to upgrade the Water Pollution Control Plant, one of the main components of the Pollution Prevention and Control Plan adopted by the City in 1999. In addition to secondary sewage treatment, the new facility includes nitrification to eliminate ammonia from the wastewater.

Plans for next year include construction of cogeneration and a change in the disinfection process from chlorine treatment to ultraviolet radiation, which will eliminate the discharge of toxic chlorine into the waters of Lake Superior.

This project contributes greatly to enhancing the quality of life of area residents and is consistent with the federal government’s efforts to reduce gas emissions and improve the water quality in the Great Lakes.

The Government of Canada has committed $25 million to support the Thunder Bay wastewater treatment project. The City of Thunder Bay will cover the balance of the total eligible costs of $91 million.

“This infrastructure project, like many others implemented across Canada, is proof positive that through the New Deal for Cities and Communities, the Government of Canada is delivering on our government’s promise to improve the quality of life for our citizens,” said Mr. Comuzzi. “The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund is only one of the many initiatives the federal government of Canada has put in place to support sustainable growth and economic prosperity for our communities.”

“This project was among our City’s top priorities and, due to the successful bilateral partnership with the federal government, we are proud to show what can be achieved when two levels of government work together in partnership for the of the improvements we have been able to make for our environment and for the future of Thunder Bay,” said Mayor Peterson.  “The opening of this facility launches a new era in the protection of Lake Superior and its watershed and that’s good news for the residents of Thunder Bay and everyone who lives on Superior.”

Through CSIF, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve the quality of life and further sustainable growth. The fund also complements the Government of Canada’s New Deal for Cities and Communities that 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 is expected to leverage over $30 billion from all partners.

- 30 -

For more information on Infrastructure Canada and its programs, please visit:
www.infrastructure.gc.ca

For further information contact:                                     

Email this page   Printer-friendly format