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For Release
July 05, 2005

$10 Million for Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility

Dauphin, Manitoba – The governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced a joint investment of $10 million to build a state-of-the-art Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility (IWWTF) in Dauphin. The facility, which is being funded through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), is cost-shared with the Rural Municipality and City of Dauphin. This new municipal infrastructure development will help make Rancher's Choice possible while meeting stringent new provincial environmental standards for water quality.

Premier Gary Doer and Minister Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), made the announcement.

"Providing better capacity for wastewater treatment makes the community even more attractive to investors, resulting in higher skilled and better paying jobs in the Dauphin region," said Premier Doer. "The facility will also help development of the much needed Rancher's Choice beef processing facility in Manitoba."

"This facility will pave the way for future industrial and residential growth in the City and RM of Dauphin," said Minister Alcock. "Today's announcement reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to investing in infrastructure that encourages growth and helps build a stronger, more sustainable economy for Manitoba and Western Canada."

The planned cattle processing facility, which will be federally licensed, will expand slaughter capacity in the province, allowing Manitoba cattle producers to ship processed beef to other provinces and the U.S. By providing cattle farmers with a market for their beef, the combined economic benefits of both the IWWTF and a beef processing plant are expected to have an impact province-wide.

In the long term, the IWWTF's modular design will allow it to expand in stages in order to meet growing residential demand as well as the needs of new industries that locate in the industrial park. It will also be the first water treatment facility in Manitoba to meet new environmental standards set out by the Province of Manitoba in its "Lake Winnipeg Initiative." The initiative seeks to protect and restore the province's lakes and rivers from the excess nutrients in commercial and residential wastewater.

The project was recommended by the Federal/Provincial Local Consultative Committee (FPLCC), a local government body created to provide input in the project selection process for MRIF. It received strong support because the IWWTF will speed the construction of the cattle processing plant, removing a major obstacle for Manitoba's beef industry.

"I am pleased to see all levels of government supporting such an important initiative," said Ron Bell, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. "Providing the necessary wastewater infrastructure for the Rancher's Choice facility will bring much needed relief to Manitoba's beef industry, and result in economic benefits for the entire province."

"This is exactly the kind of investment that is needed in order to build a better economy and more sustainable communities in Manitoba," said Reg Meade, President of the Northern Association of Community Councils. "This is good news for all Manitobans."

Consisting of matching one-third federal, provincial, and local contributions, MRIF provides approximately $120 million for infrastructure renewal in Manitoba. Twenty per cent of agreement funding is earmarked for communities with a population of over 250,000. The remaining 80 per cent is for communities under 250,000.

More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects can be found at www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.infrastructure.mb.ca.

Federal funding for this initiative is included in the February 2005 Budget.

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