Hon. John Baird, Roger Caranci, Chair of the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System, Joe Preston MP, Hon. Lawrence Cannon

London, Ontario (October 15, 2007) — The Government of Canada has identified the expansion of a drinking water distribution system, which will serve the needs of more than 500,000 people in up to 20 South western Ontario municipalities as a priority for funding under Building Canada, the new long-term infrastructure plan of Canada’s New Government.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, together with the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment; Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London; Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge; Bev Shipley, Member of Parliament for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex; Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, Mayor of the City of London; Jim Fergusson, Chair of the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System; and Roger Caranci, Chair of the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System.

The clean water initiatives identified are part of HELP Clean Water (Huron Elgin London Project), a 20-year regional infrastructure project developed by the Joint Boards of Management for the Lake Huron and Elgin Area Water System and the City of London, and will increase residents’ access to treated drinking water in the region. Canada’s New Government will fund up to one-third of total eligible costs, to a maximum federal contribution of $50 million.

The plans include implementing the regional project in phases over the next 20 years. The new and improved clean water facilities and distribution systems will operate in an environmentally friendly way, relying in part on green powered energy.

“Providing Canadians with clean drinking water is a key priority for our Government,” said Minister Cannon. “That is why the HELP Clean Water initiative is important. It is also a prime example of the types of infrastructure projects that we will be supporting as part of our new long-term Building Canada infrastructure plan.”

“Clean water is essential to the health and well-being of Canadian families, and the expansion of the water distribution system covered under HELP Clean Water will provide clean drinking water to countless families in the London area,” said Minister Baird. “The Government of Canada is also concerned about the health of our waterways. That’s why we recently announced national regulation to reduce pollutants in municipal sewage that goes into our waterways.”

“This project reflects the type of infrastructure Canada needs, serving large urban centers such as London, to small rural communities throughout Elgin County,” MP Joe Preston said.

“HELP Clean Water will enable good land use planning and sustainable economic development in our region for years to come,” said Roger Caranci, Chair of the Elgin Area Joint Board of Management. “This mega project will increase supply, improve production and delivery of clean water for daily use and reserve sufficient supply for emergency use.”

Financial support for the project is conditional on the successful negotiation with the Province of Ontario of a framework agreement under Building Canada. It is also conditional on a federal due diligence review of the project, the successful completion of an environmental assessment and the signing of a contribution agreement.

Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country. Over the last several months, the Government of Canada has met with provinces, territories and the municipal sector to discuss Building Canada with a view to signing agreements and begin funding projects under the plan.

For more information, please contact:

Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
613-948-1148

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best
Mayor of London
519-661-2500 Ext. 4920

Jim Fergusson, Chair
Lake Huron Joint Board of Management
519-565-5883

Roger Caranci, Chair
Elgin Area Joint Board of Management
519-636-3407