Grand opening of the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant in Halton Region

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 7, 2016) - Investing in Canada's infrastructure today will bring Canadians good jobs, a cleaner environment and thriving communities for years to come. That is why the governments of Canada and Ontario have invested in upgrading and expanding the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant in Halton Region.

Celebrating the grand opening today were Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Member of Provincial Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, and Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. The governments of Canada and Ontario are making infrastructure investments that will help create jobs, grow the middle class, and support a high standard of living for Canadians and their families.

Upgrades and the expansion of Halton Region's Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant will improve the quality of water through the addition of a new sand filtration process which will provide a tertiary level of treatment. A new laboratory and regional operations facility was also constructed to facilitate plant operations and monitor water quality. In addition, the expanded plant will have the capacity to treat and discharge the equivalent of over 56 Olympic pools of clean water into Lake Ontario every day. This increased capacity will meet the region's requirements for growth today and in the future.

The governments of Canada and Ontario have each contributed $51.5 million towards this project. The Regional Municipality of Halton is responsible for the remainder of the project costs.

Quick Facts

• The total estimated cost for this upgrade project is $158 million.
• This project is funded by the Government of Canada under the Green Infrastructure Fund, which targets projects that improve the quality of the environment and lead to a more sustainable economy over the long term.
• The long term infrastructure plan will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit, green and social infrastructure, transportation infrastructure that supports trade, as well as rural and northern communities.
• Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history - about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. Since 2015, the province announced support for more than 475 projects that are helping to keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada recognizes that investing in infrastructure is essential to strengthening the middle class and providing municipalities with the building blocks they need to support a high standard of living for all Canadians and their families. The upgrades and expansion to the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant are vital for building a sustainable community and maintaining water quality as the population in the Halton Region continues to grow."

- Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"This project is an excellent example of Ontario's commitment to making critical investments in public infrastructure. The upgrade and expansion of the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant will raise the water quality for Halton communities, protect the environment and improve the health of our waterways. With $51.5 million in provincial funding, Ontario is helping to stimulate the local economy and create jobs for residents, who can move forward with added opportunities for success"

- The Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Member of Provincial Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure

"Halton is committed to investing in quality infrastructure now and for the future. The Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements will ensure we keep pace with growth and Halton continues to be a great place to live. The upgrades to the Skyway Plant were made possible by the joint funding of all three levels of Government working together to ensure Halton Region continues to provide residents with a high quality of life."

- Gary Carr, Regional Chair, Halton Region

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/fes-eea/2016/docs/themes/infrastructure-en.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html.

Green Infrastructure Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/gif-fiv-eng.html

New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada