Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory will receive more than $38 million in federal funding for watermain infrastructure for more than 430 existing and future homes in the community. The money is from the government’s Build Communities Strong Fund, which provides $51 billion for infrastructure projects across the country “that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation,” the federal government said in a news release Sept. 16. The money will support watermains and related infrastructure in residential lots on Rabbit Island Road and the Ojibway Heights subdivision and will enable future development. “As a result, community members will no longer need to rely on trucked water delivery or household cistern systems,” the release said. Improving connectivity “The watermain extension will also deliver broader community benefits through the construction of new roads, fire hydrants, power lines, and drainage infrastructure, improving connectivity and providing more community members with access to municipal water and wastewater services.” The Build Communities Strong Fund is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s plan to deliver the infrastructure communities need to grow and thrive, today and for generations to come. “Our community is growing, and we need infrastructure that grows with us,” Ogimaa Tim Ominika, of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, said in the release. “This project means reliable water services for families, while also creating the infrastructure needed to build more homes and support future development. This is the kind of investment that makes a real difference in people’s daily lives and helps us keep building Wiikwemkoong for the next generation.” “This investment will improve access to essential services, eliminate reliance on trucked water delivery and household cisterns on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, and support new housing development,” Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said in the release. “This investment in critical infrastructure will bring clean, piped water to the community, helping build a stronger, healthier future while addressing growing housing and infrastructure needs.”
