News Release

SAINT-ISIDORE (GNB) – Three projects totalling $5.4 million were announced today under the Small Communities Fund.

“These strategic infrastructure projects will improve wastewater services in the communities of Saint-Isidore, Paquetville and Lamèque. I am pleased that our government could provide one third of the total funding for these projects,” said Natural Resources Minister Denis Landry. “The municipalities and the province are working in partnership with the federal government to support the sustainability of these communities and create jobs.”

Landry attended the announcement on behalf of Environment and Local Government Minister Brian Kenny.

“Our 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 Sen. Percy Mockler. “The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund, along with the federal Gas Tax Fund, supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live.”

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

The projects are:

• $3.4 million for the installation of 3.5 kilometres of new sewer lines on Founders Boulevard in Saint-Isidore and the building of two new pumping stations to deliver sewage to the nearby treatment facility.
• More than $760,000 for the replacement of an aging sewage lagoon in Paquetville which is prone to leakage and no longer meets the needs of the community. The new facility will also help the village to grow and increase its tax base.
• $1.2 million for a new and more efficient pumping station, sewer pipes and discharge line to the sewage lagoon in Lamèque. Areas of the town that are not currently served will also be connected to the municipal sewer system.

“We are happy to partner with both levels of government on this $3.4 million project that will allow us to provide better wastewater services to our residents,” said Saint-Isidore Mayor Oscar Roussel.

Under the Small Communities Fund, the provincial and federal governments are partnering 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.

“These investments from the province, the federal government and the municipality of Paquetville will allow the village to expand to better meet the needs of current and future residents,” said Paquetville Mayor André Gozzo.

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.

“Investments in infrastructure are a great way to build up communities,” said Lamèque Mayor Réginald Paulin. “Improving and extending our wastewater services is important to the town and it is wonderful to have the support of both the provincial and federal governments.”

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.