YORKTON, SASKATCHEWAN — The federal and Saskatchewan governments have committed more than $74 million to 11 water, wastewater, sewer and drainage projects intended to support housing and community growth across the province.

Ottawa is contributing about $40.1 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund and Saskatchewan is providing about $33.4 million. Municipal recipients are contributing a further $26.3 million, while Shellbrook will receive an additional $490,057 in federal Canada Community-Building Fund money.

Yorkton receives the largest project

The largest allocation is a $50-million first phase of Yorkton’s Water Pollution Control Plant renewal. The federal share is $20 million, Saskatchewan is providing $16.665 million and the city is contributing $13.335 million.

The work will upgrade the H.M. Bailey plant’s headworks facility, increasing treatment capacity and improving downstream water quality. Yorkton says the grant is the largest it has received and will allow construction to begin on the biggest infrastructure project in the city’s history.

The federal release says the upgraded plant could support future growth equivalent to 7,150 additional housing units. That figure describes potential servicing capacity; it is not an announcement that 7,150 homes have been approved or built.

La Ronge sewer extension tied to two apartment projects

La Ronge will receive $643,800 from Ottawa and $536,446 from Saskatchewan, with a $429,254 local contribution, to extend 860 metres of sewer main along Bedford Drive and Louis Road.

The governments say the extension will service two planned apartment buildings with about 124 units. The funding supports the municipal connection rather than the full cost of constructing those homes.

Nine other communities included

The package also covers water and wastewater work in Arcola, Big River, Estevan, Shellbrook and Swift Current; engineering or planning in Kyle, Naicam and the Rural Municipality of St. Louis No. 431; and flood-mitigation and drainage upgrades in Warman.

Several federal contributions remain conditional on Indigenous consultation and environmental-assessment requirements. Announced funding and projected housing capacity therefore should not be read as completed construction or guaranteed occupancy.

Sources: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, October 13; federal project-by-project backgrounder; Government of Saskatchewan; City of Yorkton.

Lead image: Flag of Saskatchewan via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Illustrative image.