GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN INVEST IN COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

Residents of Dundurn and surrounding communities, including Hanley, Riverside, Beaver Creek and Blackstrap Provincial Park, will benefit from joint federal and provincial funding for a rural water utility pipeline project. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and Arm River-Watrous MLA Greg Brkich.

This project will enhance access to clean, safe drinking water and create local jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest. This funding will go towards a regional project that will construct a pipeline to provide safe drinking water to more than 1,800 households.

"Our government recognizes that rural communities face unique challenges upgrading local infrastructure," said Yelich. "This project is going to provide residents with safer, cleaner drinking water while encouraging the growth and sustainability of our rural towns."

"The province continues to work in partnership with municipalities and the federal government to make infrastructure a priority in Saskatchewan," Greg Brkich said on behalf of Municipal Affairs Minister Jeremy Harrison. "This extensive water pipeline rehabilitation project in the Dundurn area exemplifies the long-term benefits of a regional approach towards sustainable and critical infrastructure."

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan will each invest up to $7,072,712 in the project. The Dundurn Rural Water Utility will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $21,218,136.

This is one of 145 projects announced under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund that will break ground quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of over $227 million. Together with municipal contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in Saskatchewan for the Building Canada Communities Component exceeds $340 million. The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan communities.

For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or http://www.canada-saskbcf-cc.ca/index.html.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/.

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For more information, contact:

Lisa Hutniak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Email: Lisa.Hutniak@wd-deo.gc.ca

Jeff Welke
Ministry of Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 787-6156