The Government of Canada and the Huron-Wendat Nation announce the completion of two drinking water infrastructure extension and upgrade projects for the Wendake community - Support for various infrastructures

WENDAKE, QC, May 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Working in partnership with First Nations to resolve issues related to the drinking water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure in their communities is a priority for the Government of Canada.

On behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, and in cooperation with Konrad H. Sioui, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, is pleased to announce the completion of two drinking water supply and wastewater treatment projects on the Wendake reserve.

The first project involves building infrastructure that will serve a new sector of the reserve and the second concerns fully upgrading the infrastructures on Chef Max Gros-Louis Street.

The Government of Canada's contribution of $14.5 million will provide the residents of Wendake access to more modern infrastructure, and will support the overall wellbeing of community members.

Quotes

"Access to drinking water in Indigenous communities remains a priority for our government. I am pleased to see the completion of these infrastructure projects for the drinking water supply and wastewater treatment in Wendake."

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services

"One of the Government of Canada's major priorities is to improve access to safe drinking water on reserves. I am thrilled that these two infrastructure improvement projects have been completed. These safe drinking water initiatives will promote the well-being of Wendake residents. The leadership of Grand Chief Konrad Sioui and the Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat were instrumental in the process. I congratulate them as well as everyone involved in these projects."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"The Huron-Wendat Nation has occupied its territory, Nionwentsïo, since time immemorial, and Wendake is the community in which a large number of its members live. Because of the priority the current Government of Canada places on accessing drinking water in Indigenous communities, the substantial funding granted to our Nation allows us to complete a full upgrade of the aging infrastructures on Chef Max Gros-Louis Street. This modernization will absolutely improve the residents' health and quality of life. Moreover, since our economic and social development relies on expanding the reserve, the federal government also contributes to drinking water and wastewater treatment projects in Wendake-East. I wish to commend Indigenous Services Canada for its collaboration through its regional office, which greatly facilitated all of the work in this file."

Konrad H. Sioui
Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation in Wendake

Quick facts

• These drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects are part of the expansion of the Wendake reserve.
• On December 31, 2017, a total of 1,495 members of the Huron-Wendat Nation were living on the Wendake reserve.

Related links

Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat [French only]

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

members of the 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