One of the big concerns residents have living in this city is the dramatically rising water rates.
Over the past 10 years, water rates have increased over 60 per cent. This is because the operation and maintenance of our water and sewer systems is directly supported by our water rates.
We will need to spend over $200 million upgrading this system up to acceptable standards which will mean our rates may increase to the point of being higher than our property taxes, if we don’t have upper levels of government funding.
While there is optimistic speculation that the New Build Canada Fund (NBCF) will fund the proposed Event Centre, the NBCF does fund infrastructure projects such as water/sewer systems for municipalities.
The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component of the NBCF provides funding to support infrastructure projects of national, regional and local significance that contribute to objectives related to economic growth, a clean environment and stronger communities.
This portion of the fund will help subsidize water, sewer and disaster mitigation infrastructure that our city desperately needs.
By upgrading our water/sewer infrastructure with the NBCF, we achieve five things:
1) We will be addressing our aging water/sewer infrastructure now,
2) Safe drinking water for all residents,
3) A modern sewer system that is safer for the environment and residents,
4) A lower rate of increase on our water rates,
5) A drainage/sewer system that will help mitigate future flooding disasters and sewer backups.
As your councillor, this is one the many things I will take stand on to make this a more affordable and safe city for all citizens.
