News Release

RICHIBUCTO (GNB) – Nearly $470,000 was announced today for wastewater upgrades in Richibucto under the Small Communities Fund.

“I am pleased that the provincial government is partnering with the federal government and the Town of Richibucto on this important project which supports a clean environment and delivers new infrastructure and jobs to the community,” said Kent North MLA Bertrand LeBlanc.

Leblanc attended the event for Environment and Local Government Minister Brian Kenny.

“The federal government understands that by building stronger communities and modernizing and developing our infrastructure, we are creating jobs and opportunities and building a better Canada for future generations,” said Senator Rose-May Poirier. “The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live.”

Poirier attended the announcement for Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Denis Lebel.

This project consists of upgrading the existing Mooney Street sanitary sewer lift station in order to meet the 2016 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s requirements by replacing the existing aging steel wet well with a new 2,400 mm diameter concrete wet well, including two new submersible pumps and associated piping. The upgrade will also include building modifications to accommodate the new equipment, new wiring, ventilation upgrades, roof upgrades and a new diesel back-up generator set and transfer switch.

“The Town of Richibucto is committed to providing quality services to our residents,” said Richibucto Mayor Roger Doiron. “Partnerships such as this enable us to sustainably improve our infrastructure and ensure it meets the needs of the community today and in the future.”

Under the Small Communities Fund, the provincial government is partnering with the federal government to jointly invest about $85 million in infrastructure over the next 10 years. Each project also receives matched funding from the community for a total investment of more than $118 million.

A total of 39 projects in New Brunswick communities will receive funding for strategic infrastructure projects that contribute to both a cleaner environment and economic growth. This is the first round of investments under the fund.

The Small Communities Fund was announced last year as part of the federal government’s 10-year infrastructure plan for communities with a population of less than 100,000. The fund was created under the New Building Canada Plan 2014-2024.

Eligible categories include highways and major roads, public transit, disaster mitigation, connectivity and broadband, innovation, wastewater, green energy, drinking water, solid waste management, brownfield redevelopment, local and regional airports, short-line rail, short-sea shipping and northern infrastructure.