News Release

CLAIR (GNB) – The federal, provincial and municipal governments announced today an investment totalling nearly $4.2 million in infrastructure upgrades for the Villages of Clair and Saint-François-de-Madawaska under the Small Communities Fund.

“These projects support a clean environment through improvements to the wastewater collection systems,” said Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour Minister Francine Landry. “We are proud of the partnership we have with the federal government and the municipalities to deliver new infrastructure and jobs to these communities.”

Landry spoke on behalf of Environment and Local Government Minister Brian Kenny.

The upgrade for Clair involves the replacement of water mains, sanitary sewers and storm sewers on part of Principale Street. The upgrade for Saint-François-de-Madawaska involves the excavation of a triple trench to replace drinking water pipes, sanitary and storm sewer mains from Montagne Street to Frontière Street.

“The federal government understands that by building stronger communities and modernizing and developing our infrastructure, we are creating jobs and opportunities and building a better Canada for future generations,” said federal Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt. “The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live.”

Valcourt spoke on behalf of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Denis Lebel.

“We are pleased to work with all levels of government to improve our necessary infrastructure for the residents and businesses of Clair,” said Clair Mayor Pierre Michaud. “This is a great announcement that brings important upgrades to the heart of our community.”

“Today’s announcement will go a long way toward ensuring our community has good quality drinking water and effective sewer infrastructure,” said Gérard Cyr, mayor of Saint-François-de-Madawaska. “We are pleased to make these important investments together with our partners.”

Under the Small Communities Fund, the provincial government is partnering with the federal government to jointly invest a total of about $79 million in infrastructure over the next 10 years. Each project also receives matched funding from the community for a total investment of more than $118 million.

A total of 38 projects in New Brunswick communities will receive funding for strategic infrastructure projects that contribute to both a cleaner environment and economic growth. This is the first round of investments under the fund.

The Small Communities Fund was announced last year as part of the federal government’s 10-year infrastructure plan for communities with a population of less than 100,000. The fund was created under the New Building Canada Plan 2014-2024.

Eligible categories include highways and major roads, public transit, disaster mitigation, connectivity and broadband, innovation, wastewater, green energy, drinking water, solid waste management, brownfield redevelopment, local and regional airports, short-line rail, short-sea shipping and northern infrastructure.