Discussing the exciting new technology for the West Elgin water treatment facility (from left to right) Holly Wirth, Ontario Clean Water Agency; Joe Preston, MP; Steve Peters, MPP; Graham Warwick, Mayor West Elgin; Elvio Zaghi, Project Manager Stantec.

West Elgin, Ontario– Two infrastructure projects that received upper-tier grants are progressing well in the west end of the riding of Elgin – Middlesex – London.

MP Joe Preston and MPP Steve Peters toured the area today and met with local municipal officials to get and update on how the projects are coming.

“The Harper government is helping to strengthen communities and protect our environment,” Preston said. “When we invest in renewal projects such as these, we are investing in the individuals and families that live here.”

“Our province’s infrastructure is essential to the well-being , prosperity and quality of life for residents in West Elgin and Dutton-Dunwich,” Peters said. “Through COMRIF, the McGuinty government is delivering improved brides and roads, water systems and waste management processes across rural Ontario.”

The Municipality of West Elgin received over $9.7 million from both the federal and provincial government under Intake Two of the Canada- Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) in April 2006 for the construction of a new water treatment plant and the extension of the Graham Road watermain. The municipality will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $21, 773,300. The new plant, which will be built along Graham Road farther north than the existing plant, will use membrane filtration technology. The Graham Road watermain will be extended from Finney Street in West Lorne to McMurchy Line on Graham Road to service areas currently relying on shallow wells. The water treatment plant is expected to be operational in summer 2008. The project received 90 per cent funding from the federal and provincial governments rather than the usual two thirds due to its high level of necessity for the residents serviced and about to be serviced by municipal water in the area.

The Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich received over $1.5 million from both the federal and provincial government under Intake Three of COMRIF in January of this year for upgrades to its water supply system. The municipality will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $4, 581,771. Dutton-Dunwich has embarked on a number of improvements and expansions of its water system and some construction is expected to begin this fall. The entire project could be complete as early as next year.

Municipal official in West Elgin and Dutton-Dunwich are appreciative for the upper-tier government support for their vital infrastructure projects.

“Constructing a new water treatment facility and upgrading this local watermain addresses our real infrastructure need and ensures our community has an essential foundation on which it can continue to build,” West Elgin Mayor Graham Warwick said.

“We are looking forward to moving ahead with these important improvements to our water system to ensure a safe and healthy community for all of our residents,” Dutton-Dunwich Mayor Bonnie Vowel said.

Under the five-year, $900 million COMRIF program, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to enhance and renew Ontario’s public infrastructure, improve the quality of the environment, protect the health and safety of citizens, support long-term economic growth and build prosperous, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need.