Funding of almost $888,000 for four projects under the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) was announced today by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and by the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We are pleased to continue our partnership with the province and the various municipalities to improve water and waste water systems throughout Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Hearn. "Our government is committed to strengthening municipal infrastructure in rural communities here in Newfoundland and Labrador and improving the quality of life for all Canadians through investments that protect the environment and support long-term economic growth."

The project funding includes approximately $514,000 for the Town of Deer Lake, almost $218,000 for the Town of Bird Cove, almost $104,000 for the local service district of Bartlett's Harbour and just over $52,000 for the local service district of Brig Bay.

"We are pleased to support important water and sewer infrastructure improvements for municipalities across the province," stated Minister Denine. "The installation of new municipal infrastructure will improve efficiencies and secure aging systems, and provide safe, reliable drinking water to rural communities."

The Town of Deer Lake will remove asbestos cement water mains and sanitary sewer mains along High Street and replace them with PVC pipes. Three new fire hydrants will be installed and new sidewalks will be added. The federal government will contribute $171,217 towards the project, with the province providing $172,930 and the municipality $169,506.

In Bird Cove, the municipality will install sanitary sewer services to 10 residential properties in the Big Droke region to replace the existing septic system. The federal share will be $72,634, with the province contributing $145,268.

A $103,682 project for Bartlett's Harbour will allow the community to replace and upgrade its water distribution system by replacing the water lines to 48 households and adding an additional two households to the system. The Government of Canada is contributing $34,561, while the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $48,730. The local service district of Bartlett's Harbour will fund the balance of $20,391.

The local service district of Brig Bay will install individual connections for residences to a new water distribution system that will eliminate leaking and provide better service. The federal share for this project is $17,369, with the province providing $24,490 and the municipality $10,248.

The 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. Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, working on behalf of communities, helps set the strategic direction of the agreement and identifies priorities under the capacity-building component of the agreement.

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2007 11 15                                                    11:25 a.m.