Minister Dempster Announces Support for Multi-Purpose Community Building in St. Lewis

  • Municipal Affairs and Environment

June 21, 2019

The Provincial Government, the NunatuKavut Community Council and the Town of St. Lewis are investing in a new multi-purpose building, including a fire hall for the community of St. Lewis. The project has a total value of over $470,000.

On June 21, the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, joined Todd Russell, President of the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC), and Helen Poole, Mayor of St. Lewis, to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and to make the project announcement.

Through the Municipal Capital Works program, the Provincial Government is investing over $255,000 in this project. The municipal share is approximately $170,000, with $100,000 of that amount being provided by NCC which is providing support through the Investing in NunatuKavut Communities Infrastructure Program. Initial funding was provided by NCC to ensure a serviceable site for the building and, most recently, funding was provided to help the town leverage provincial funds.

Of the $129 million which Budget 2019 provides for municipal infrastructure, $50.5 million has been provided for provincial-municipal cost-shared projects. These investments deliver on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation, enhance efficiency, and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“Through our investments in municipal projects, we are working collaboratively with the communities to provide better, more sustainable services to the residents of St. Lewis. The town and the NunatuKavut Community Council have worked hard to make this project a reality, and the new building will bring the community together, improve access to services, and enhance public safety.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster,
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment

“On behalf of the NunatuKavut Community Council, I congratulate the Town of St. Lewis on securing funding for a new centre that will become a vital gathering place for the whole community. We acknowledge the hard work and contributions of the town council, the St. Lewis Sustainability Committee and other partners and supporters. It is very fitting that this announcement is being made on National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day that celebrates the contributions of Indigenous peoples in Canada. We look forward to continuing our work with St. Lewis, other communities in NunatuKavut and all levels of government on infrastructure and initiatives that advance the overall health and wellbeing of NunatuKavut Inuit.”
Todd Russell
President, NunatuKavut Community Council

“The Town of St. Lewis and council are pleased with this announcement from Minister Dempster. We have been working hard on this project, and it is through partnerships between the town, the NunatuKavut Community Council, and the Provincial Government that make it possible – especially in small municipalities like ours. We are very grateful and want to thank everyone involved.”
Helen Poole
Mayor, Town of St. Lewis

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Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

Kelly Broomfield
NunatuKavut Community Council
709-280-5965
communications@nunatukavut.ca

Helen Poole
Mayor, St. Lewis
709-939-2282
stlewistownoffice@nf.aibn.com

2019 06 21 12:00 am