Kenora, Treaty 3 Territory, ON — The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with First Nation communities to build water and wastewater facilities that will ensure improved and reliable access to clean water. Bob Nault, Member of Parliament for Kenora, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced funding for two infrastructure projects; one in Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and one in Gull Bay First Nation.
“Today’s funding is for the construction of water and wastewater connections between the city of Kenora and WON. This will bring clean water and wastewater services to the community and will have significant positive economic and social impacts in the community, Kenora, and surrounding areas,” stated Nault. “This is a big step in the right direction for the Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum and I am pleased to celebrate with them on this momentous occasion. I would like to congratulate Chief Skead, his council, and all others involved in seeing this project through. I look forward to the positive changes this investment will bring to the community.”
“Building reliable infrastructure is critical for the health and wellbeing of any community. These projects in the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and Gull Bay First Nation will provide reliable drinking water to residents and eliminate long-term drinking water advisories. I look forward to following the progress of these important infrastructure projects,” says Jane Philpott, P.C., M.P. Minister of Indigenous Services.
“I am happy to have worked side-by-side with the representatives from Canada to ensure that the provision of safe and reliable drinking water comes to the citizens of our Nation in a way that limits negative impacts to the Land and the environment,” says Chief Wilfred King, Gull Bay First Nation.
Canada has committed to fund the design and construction of water and wastewater connections between the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and the City of Kenora. Once completed, the project will provide safe drinking water to all 377 residents that live on the reserve and will eliminate two long-term drinking water advisories in the community.
In addition, Canada has also committed to funding the design and construction of a new centralized water treatment plant in Gull Bay First Nation. The water treatment plant will bring safe drinking water to 404 people that live on the reserve and will eliminate a long-term drinking water advisory that has been in place since April 2009.
“We are excited to be making progress on this project and we are happy to have the Government of Canada and the City of Kenora working alongside us. Completion of this project will provide a safe and reliable supply of drinking water for our growing community and economy, now and for future generations,” states Chief Christopher Skead, Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum.
“Without the availability of consistent drinking water in Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek – Gull Bay First Nation for nearly two decades, our Nation and its Citizens have been negatively impacted on so many levels. Today’s announcement represents a significant improvement to the infrastructure in our Nation and will facilitate construction of other priority community projects, such as a new school, and allow those projects to move forward more quickly.
Quick facts
- Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum
- Wauzhushk Onigum Nation is located approximately 3 kilometres southeast of Kenora.
- The design phase of the project is now underway.
- Construction is expected to commence in January 2019 and it is anticipated that all work will be completed by fall 2019.
- Gull Bay First Nation
- Gull Bay First Nation is located 180 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.
- The design phase of the project began on November 8, 2018, and construction is expected to commence in spring/summer 2019.
- All work is expected to be completed by summer 2020.
