Councillors wanting federal government to up the ante for sewage treatment plant

City councillors are looking for the province and Ottawa to pick up a larger share of funding for upgrades to a Winnipeg sewer plant.

Some Winnipeg councillors are looking to get the federal government to commit more to the next phase of the sewage treatment plant, saving Winnipeggers money.

Couns. Shawn Dobson and Brian Mayes are requesting the federal government pay 50 per cent of the cost for Phase 3 and the provincial government cover 33 per cent.

The entire project is expected to cost over $3 billion, with Phase 3 projecting to cost around $1.57 billion.

Phase 3 would see a new facility built that would remove nutrients from treated water, making it cleaner when it enters the river.

If the feds and province contributed the combined 83 per cent of the cost, it would leave the city with having to cover only 17 per cent.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said this would be a good idea, but doesn’t think it is something the federal government would go for.

“I don’t think it’s realistic at this time because there is no federal program that is structured that way,” Gillingham said, speaking to CTV News Tuesday.

“At best, right now, the federal programs are structured a third, a third, a third. A third federal government, a third Province of Manitoba, and a third the City of Winnipeg. So under that federal program, the city has already put forward over one-third share for the third phase of the North End plant. We’re now working with the provincial and federal governments to get their funding secured for the third phase.”

If everything goes according to plan, the second phase of the plant is scheduled to start construction in the latter half of 2026 and has a price tag of just over $1 billion.

This motion will be discussed at EPC on May 19.