With a federal contribution of $28 million joining an already-secured $34.9-million from the province, the city is well on its way toward funding a $70-million water/wastewater project.
Located through the Lively-Walden area, the project is aimed at increasing water/wastewater capacity in the area to allow for the construction of approximately 3,300 new homes.
The vast majority of work is expected to be completed by the end of March 2027.
Sudbury Liberal MP Viviane Lapointe made the federal funding announcement during a media event in Lively on Friday, joined by city staff and elected officials.
“Access to housing definitely remains a top of mind issue for many people in our community,” Lapointe told those who gathered on Friday.
On the same day Premier Doug Ford was in Greater Sudbury to announce $34.9-million toward the project on Oct. 28, 2024, Lapointe noted that Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre said that his government would cut the very funding that fuelled Friday’s federal announcement.
The CBC quoted Poilievre as saying that he’d cut the fund because it “hasn’t built any infrastructure or any housing.”
Arguing against the notion that this is wasteful spending, Lapointe said, “cities cannot do it on their own, they do need that (fund), and each level of government needs to step up and do their part.”
City Water/Wastewater project engineer Akli Ben-Antuer told Sudbury.com that the water/wastewater project has been in the works for decades.
They’ve been chipping away at it over the years, but it wasn’t until senior levels of government came together with funding that they’ve been able to fast-track the project.
“This is a big project that requires a lot of capital money, which we don’t have,” he said. “Pipes and the lift stations are bottlenecks, you can’t really add more flows to the system itself, which is why this is needed to free up housing to allow for more capacity in the wastewater system.”
The environment is another beneficiary, city Growth and Infrastructure general manager Tony Cecutti told Sudbury.com, noting that the new system will improve the quality of treated wastewater discharged into Simon Lake.
They’ll also improve the region’s underground system to ensure there are fewer leaks.
During Friday’s event, Mayor Paul Lefebvre described it as a “historic investment” and evidence of the good work the three levels of government can do when they work together.
Friday’s investment is indicative of the kind of work the Liberals will aspire to continue doing in the event they retain power in this year’s federal election.
It’s widely anticipated that Prime Minister Mark Carney will dissolve Parliament on Sunday, with an election day at some point in late April or early May.
Friday’s announcement is indicative of what people can expect from the Liberals if they retain power, Lapointe told Sudbury.com.
“We recognize the need to help cities meet their demands, and we have a mayor here who wants to grow the population,” she said.
“What we’ve seen in our new prime minister, is when he talks about how it’s time to build and invest, this funding announcement today reflects our commitment to investing in Canada and investing in communities.”
During Friday’s funding announcement, Lapointe also cited federal investments in the Pearl Street affordable housing complex, the Coniston seniors building, Project Manitou in downtown Sudbury and the transitional housing project on Lorraine Street as recent examples of the Liberals’ commitment to housing.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.