THUNDER BAY -- The federal government has announced water treatment plant upgrade projects for a large number of First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario.
It's part of a push to end boil water advisories by 2020, first promised by the Prime Minister in the last election.
The projects are in 18 communities around the region including Marten Falls, Webequie, Muskrat Dam, and Slate Falls.
The projects range from building new wells and repairing existing treatment plants, to building completely new plants.
There's no price tag for the projects here in the Northwest, but the feds committed $1.8 billion to the First Nations water projects nationwide in 2016.
Monday's announcement came from local MP Don Rusnak, who said Ottawa isn't just investing in bricks and mortar, but communities as well.
“It’s not only about the infrastructures in the communities, it’s about training people and making sure the training programs are up to date and that we’re remunerating the operators appropriately,” Rusnak said.
“It’s a comprehensive approach in making sure not only the infrastructure is correct on the ground, but the people operating the systems are properly trained and properly paid.”
Rusnak added four of the projects announced Monday are in the design stage, while five have already started construction.
(TBT News)
