Northern water, housing and transit projects to receive funding from Ottawa
Ottawa announced federal infrastructure investments across the country this week, with water systems, housing development and transportation projects among the initiatives being prioritized in the North.
The funding is part of the Build Communities Strong Fund launch, set up by the government to distribute funding to infrastructure projects across the country over the next ten years.
Projects for all three northern territories were announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Brampton, Ontario.
In Nunavut, more than $108 million has been committed to upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure in Iqaluit to support new housing development, with up to 2,500 units expected by 2031.
The city’s Mayor Solomon Awa said the project will go a long way towards alleviating the housing crisis in the city as well as promoting economic knock-on effects.
“We are building the infrastructure needed to support more affordable homes and expand homeownership opportunities for Iqalummiut and Inuit, while strengthening our community for the future,” Awa said in a statement.
In the Northwest Territories, more than $20 million will go toward building a new water treatment plant in Hay River that will serve both the town’s residents as well as the nearby Indigenous communities.
In Yukon, about $8.7 million has been allocated to build new paths and bike lanes connecting downtown with the city’s outlying neighbourhoods.
In total, approximately $300 million in funding was announced for 13 projects across Canada this week.
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Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Dene Nation says federal money for housing, infrastructure should go directly to communities, CBC News
Greenland: Despite housing shortages, Greenland razes colonial apartment blocks, Blog by Mia Bennett
Sweden: Arctic Municipality in Sweden ups recruitment perks with housing, ski passes, bonuses, Radio Sweden
United States: Greenland ‘Freedom City?’ Rich donors push Trump for a tech hub up north, Reuters
This is great news, especially the focus on water infrastructure. Ensuring access to clean water needs to be a priority in the North, and it’s good to see Ottawa stepping up to support these crucial projects, alongside housing and transit. Hopefully, the funding will effectively address the specific challenges faced by northern communities.