Canada congratulates Pauingassi First Nation on official opening of expanded water treatment plant and other water infrastructure progress

PAUINGASSI FIRST NATION, MB, Aug. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - Working in partnership with First Nation communities to invest in on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure is a priority for Indigenous Services Canada and the federal government. 

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulated Pauingassi First Nation as they celebrated recent upgrades to their water treatment plant with an official opening, and the additional progress being made on water infrastructure.

The community lifted a long-term drinking water advisory in March 2018 following the completion of the water treatment plant expansion. The advisory had been in place in the community since September 2014. Construction of a new wastewater lagoon is now underway and is expected to be completed by December 2018.

The Government of Canada has invested $13.3 million in a water treatment plant for the community and an additional $12.9 million in a new wastewater lagoon.

Quotes

"Our government is working in partnership with First Nation communities to improve water infrastructure on reserve. Congratulations to Pauingassi First Nation on your recent water treatment plant upgrades and progress on additional water and wastewater infrastructure. These much needed improvements will have significant benefits for the entire community."

The Honourable Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

"In partnership with Indigenous Services Canada, Pauingassi First Nation will finally have the infrastructure in place to remove the boil water advisory that our First Nation has had in place for over a decade. This infrastructure will not only provide clean drinking water for our people but eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage into our lake."

Chief Michael Owens
Pauingassi First Nation

Quick Facts

• Pauingassi First Nation is located 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg and is accessible by winter road.
• Budget 2016 provided $1.8 billion over five years to significantly improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure, ensure proper facility operation and maintenance, and support training of water system operators. In addition, Budget 2016 included $141.7 million over five years in new funding to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.
• Budget 2018 provided an additional $172.6 million over three years to help accelerate progress on lifting drinking water advisories and to ensure more infrastructure projects can be completed by 2020 instead of 2021. Budget 2018 also proposes support for repairs to high risk water systems, recruitment, training and retention initiatives, as well as the establishment of innovative First Nation-led service delivery models.

Associated Links

Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nation communities

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, 819-934-2796; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160