Money dedicated to community improvements

Page 3

A total of $7.7 million has been committed to make improvements to infrastructures on Saskatchewan First Nations, being funded by 17 First Nation communities in partnership with the federal government.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Infrastructure Canada will be contributing $4.5 million to the project, with the remainder coming from the communitiesthat will benefit directly from the improvements.

Planned improvements under the project include renovation of the arena on Big River First Nation to bring it up to safety standards, construction of arenas for Birch Narrows Dene Nation and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and replacement of the lobby and dressing room areas in the community arena on Buffalo River Dene Nation.

Money has also been committed to consolidate the three active landfill sides on Sakimay First Nation into one centralized site, and decommission the three other former landfill sites that are no longer used. The funding will also allow Black Lake Denesuline Nation to build a new certified landfill site.

A number of the projects being funded involve improvements to on-reserve water and wastewater systems.

Twenty-nine homes on Pasqua First Nation will have their services upgraded, trading in the open-pit lagoons for a new infiltrator system. And on Key First Nation, 21 homes will be connected to the existing community water system.

On Ocean Man First Nation, construction of eight water supply systems is planned, and on Sweetgrass First Nation, the community will replace 12 single-cell lagoons with a sewage infiltration system. On Moosomin First Nation, eight single-cell lagoons and 10 sewage jet systems will also be replaced with sewage infiltration systems.

Similar improvements are planned for Saulteaux First Nation, where the sewer system services of 29 houses will be upgraded, with 15 lagoons and 14 jet disposal systems being replaced with infiltration systems, and on Red Pheasant First Nation, where 41 single-cell lagoons and one sewage jet system will be replaced with sewage infiltration systems.

On Okanese First Nation, a new low-pressure, low-volume water supply service will be built to service 14 existing homes, with the capacity to also service other homes expected to be built in the area in the future. Thirty homes on Buffalo River Dene Nation will also be receiving water services, thanks to plans to build a pipeline, while 12 houses on Sakimay First Nation will also receive access to water, through installation of a system that ties into the water distribution system operated by the Yorkville Public Utility Board.

Three projects to improve local roadways are also part of the funding package. On White Bear First Nation, Cannington Manor Road will be upgraded, while on Clearwater River Dene Nation the only access road into the community will be upgraded. On Fishing Lake First Nation, the reserve's three main roads will be rebuilt and regravelled.