The municipalities of Tilting and Seldom-Little Seldom on Fogo Island will undertake improvements to their municipal water and sewer systems, thanks to federal and provincial contributions made under the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).

"Canada's new government is helping to ensure that our municipalities have modern equipment to provide their residents with clean, safe water," said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "Helping municipalities improve their infrastructure systems has a direct impact on quality of life for families, and our government is pleased to help support these projects on Fogo Island."

"The province is pleased to contribute over $412,000 in support of upgrades to improve water and sewer services in Tilting and Seldom-Little Seldom," stated the Honourable Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. "These investments are essential to the sustainability of communities, and these projects announced today will improve operations and distribution of water services to residents."

In Tilting, a $740,275 project will provide water and sewer services to 24 households and access to two fire hydrants for the residents of Kelly's Island Road. The federal government will provide $246,758 for the Tilting project, while the provincial share will be $347,929, with the municipality providing the remaining $145,588.

The Town of Seldom-Little Seldom will upgrade its existing water system with a contribution of $136,141 to install a second transmission main between the existing pumping facility and the first residential dwelling to stabilize chlorine residual levels during peak water demand. The federal government will provide $45,380 for the project, while the provincial share will be $63,987, with the municipality providing the remaining $26,774.

The $84 million, six-year Canada-NL MRIF Agreement is administered jointly by the Department of Municipal Affairs on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and ACOA, on behalf of Infrastructure Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, acting on behalf of communities, helps set the strategic direction of the agreement and identify priorities under the capacity-building component of the agreement.

For more information on MRIF, visit //www.mpa.gov.nl.ca/mpa/mrifa/default.htm or e-mail MRIF@gov.nl.ca. For additional information on this and other infrastructure programs administered by the Government of Canada, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.