David Tilson MP celebrates wastewater treatment upgrades benefiting grand valley residents

Phase One of the project included design and engineering work, the installation of pipes, the construction of a pumping station and facilities for waste storage, and the first phase of the treatment process. Phase Two of the project involved the construction of a new water pollution control plant and administration building to house office space and system control room.

“Safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of families, residents and local business,” said David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin–Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Our government believes that investing in infrastructure is one of the best ways to create jobs in Canada, and I am pleased that this project will contribute to the economic future of this region and help to protect the environment.”

“Our government is making strategic infrastructure investments to strengthen our communities, support local economies and create jobs for Ontario families,” said Dipika Damerla, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “These critical wastewater upgrades will protect the environment and improve the quality of life for residents of East Luther Grand Valley, now and in the future.”

“After 10 years of work, this project has finally come to a completion with the financial help of both the federal and provincial governments, putting this community now in a competitive position where we hopefully can attract new business, and strengthen our economy today and into the future,” said John Oosterhof, Mayor of the Township of East Luther Grand Valley

The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed nearly $5.5 million to the project through the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Township of East Luther Grand Valley contributed the balance of the total eligible project cost of more than $16.3 million.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012 focuses on creating new opportunities for jobs and growth, and securing long-term prosperity for Canadians. Investing in public infrastructure is an important part of this strategy. Thanks to the Government of Canada’s leadership, and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 610,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. To learn more about the opportunities in Economic Action Plan 2012, visit www.budget.gc.ca/2012/home-accueil-eng.html.

This project also supports Building Together, the Government of Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province’s roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Ontario is investing $12.8 billion in infrastructure projects in 2011-12, bringing the government’s total infrastructure investments since 2003 to $75 billion. Building modern, efficient infrastructure has created or preserved close to 100,000 jobs each year, on average, making Ontario’s economy more productive and improving quality of life, now and in the future.