Winnipeg Liberal MPs working on additional funding for North End sewage treatment plant

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This article was published 29/11/2024 (281 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The federal government is in discussions to extend financial support for upgrades to Winnipeg’s North End sewage treatment plant.

Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid told the Free Press he had conversations about the funding with his municipal and provincial counterparts Friday morning.

“The three levels of government are seized with this issue,” Duguid said, adding he and cabinet minister Dan Vandal (Saint Boniface — Saint Vital) “are very seized with this issue to see how the federal government can help.”

“What I can say is that there are very active discussions,” Duguid said. “We know how important an issue this is.”

On Thursday after the province announced an extra $30 million for the project, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he wants to avoid “unprecedented” water and sewer rates for residents, which will be the case if the city has to “go this alone.”

“If ratepayers have to pay the full amount of the cost increases alone, we will see substantial increases to water and sewer rates like we’ve never seen before,” he said.

The city, provincial and federal governments had a funding deal to complete the second phase of the project for $553 million, before the price soared to $1.035 billion. The city has said it needs significant funding from the province and Ottawa to cover that increased cost.

Duguid says he wants to avoid rate shock for sewage and water bills and is working with his counterparts toward a solution, but stopped short of announcing any extra cash for the project.

Duguid, who acts as the federal special adviser for water, said he has a long history listening to issues related to the North End plant dating back to his time as a Winnipeg city councillor between 1989 and 1995.

“The reality is Lake Winnipeg can’t wait. We need to deal with the pollution issue, but also there is the issue of Winnipeg expansion, and we won’t be able to build homes and to grow as a city unless we deal with that issue,” he said.

The overall sewage plant upgrade is intended to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in the water released into the Red River, to protect the health of Lake Winnipeg, and is required under a provincial Environment Act licence.

Phase 2 of the sewage plant project will involve the construction of a new facility for biosolids, a nutrient-rich byproduct that can be used as fertilizer.

The province’s extra $30 million brings the total provincial commitment for Phase 2 of the project to $197.4 million. To date, the province has earmarked $294.1 million for the first two phases.

— With files from Julia-Simone Rutgers

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca