Residents in the semi-rural Charlottetown suburb of Miltonvale Park are now benefiting from a new water and wastewater servicing system. Government officials gathered today to celebrate the completion of the municipal project.
“Clean drinking water and safe wastewater treatment are essential to the health and well-being of local residents and protecting the environment,” said Senator Mike Duffy, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island. “That’s why our government is proud to deliver infrastructure funding to improve utilities in Miltonvale Park, create local jobs and promote economic growth in Prince Edward Island.”
“Investments in local sewer and water infrastructure go a long way to improving the lives of residents and the health of local eco-systems,” said the Honourable Robert Vessey, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "It was tremendous to see the two communities of Miltonvale Park and the City of Charlottetown work together to make this project a success. The Gas Tax program allows the Province to facilitate many important projects such as this."
This project involved the installation of water and wastewater services on several roads to connect Miltonvale Park residences to the City of Charlottetown's utilities. This new system replaces private wells and septic systems, resulting in cleaner, safer drinking water and improved wastewater treatment. The Province of Prince Edward Island directed $1,446,522 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation toward this project. The Community of Miltonvale Park contributed the balance of the total project cost of $2.17 million.
“Council is very pleased with the results of the project and residents have started to connect their homes to the system. The Water and Sewer Committee is to be commended for its work with all the parties involved to make this a reality,” said Miltonvale Park Council Chair Betty Pryor.
Canada’s Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding to local governments to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion per year. The Government of Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund alone, provides $15 million in funding annually for municipal infrastructure in Prince Edward Island.
Investing in infrastructure is a key part of the Government of Canada’s plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Over the course of the summer, the Government of Canada is meeting with provinces, territories, municipalities through municipal associations and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as well as other stakeholders, in a series of roundtables to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan. This plan will focus on investments that support job creation and economic growth, while building strong, prosperous communities across the country. In addition, the Government of Canada will hold a roundtable with national stakeholders and representatives of the private sector at the end of the summer. Working together to develop this plan will provide new opportunities for all orders of government and the private sector to build partnerships to improve public infrastructure in Canada.
For further information on infrastructure investments in Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca and www.gov.pe.ca.