The Government of Manitoba has announced a joint investment of $11.3 million dollars from both provincial and municipal governments into a new water treatment facility that will service the communities of Dugald and Oakbank. 

The funding will be split 50/50, with each level of government providing over $5 Million dollars for a total of $11.3 million dollars. 

“I am happy to announce continued investment into our local critical infrastructure,” says Ron Schuler, MLA for Springfield-Ritchot. “This investment of $11.3 Million Dollars into this joint water treatment plant will provide the communities of Oakbank and Dugald with capacity to add 4,000 more homes to their communities. As well, it will add improved fire protection to the community of Springfield.” 

Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke made the funding announcement at City Hall in Portage la Prairie where Mayors, Reeves, MLAs and more, showed their support for each project. 

"Without wastewater you cannot build communities, and you see the likes of Portage la Prairie, Morden, and Winkler, where they're at their capacity, and where do you go from there?" says Clarke. "So, for our government to provide this level of funding for them to move forward. it's just a really joyous occasion." 

President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities Kam Blight says he was happy to see the announcement happen, and it's something they have been waiting for. 

"Well, this is something that's long overdue and something that the municipalities and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities has been lobbying for, for quite some time, and we certainly appreciate the Province of Manitoba hearing our concerns, and stepping up, and coming forward," says Blight. "There's a lot of opportunity for economic growth across this great province, and this will help to promote that and enable that for these communities to continue to grow." 

He adds it'll help support the rapid residential growth we're seeing across the entire province. 

In addition to the water treatment plant expansion in the RM of Springfield, project investments include: 

  • wastewater treatment plant expansion in the City of Morden; 

  • water treatment plant expansion in the City of Brandon; 

  • wastewater system expansion in the City of Winkler and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Stanley; 

  • water treatment plant in Letellier in partnership with the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative; 

  • City of Portage la Prairie’s water treatment plant expansion; 

  • rural water pipelines in the RM of St. Francois-Xavier; and 

  • water and sewer renewals in the Town of Powerview-Pine Falls. 

“As MLA for Springfield-Ritchot, I have had the pleasure of announcing over $196 Million dollars invested into our constituency, and I will continue advocating for investments to help our community grow,” Schuler adds.

-With files from Randy Lilley