Safer and more reliable drinking water for Whale Cove residents

Whale Cove, Nunavut, August 25, 2017—Access to clean and reliable drinking water is critical to the health and prosperity of Northern communities. Investments in water infrastructure help safeguard the well-being of Northerners, protect the local environment and keep our communities healthy and liveable.

Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honorable Joe Savikataaq, Minister of Community and Government Services, announced $500,000 in combined funding for the Whale Cove Emergency Water Supply project.

For the past three years, Whale Cove has been under boil water advisories during the summer months due to high levels of coliforms detected in the drinking water. The funding announced today is for a project that involves installing a portable water treatment unit which will introduce a set of three inline filters into the treatment process. The Government of Nunavut is reviewing long-term solutions to address the water treatment issues. Once implemented, the portable water treatment unit, secured under the Government of Canada’s Small Communities Fund, will be available as a rapid response to other drinking water emergencies in Nunavut.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement represents an important step towards ensuring that Whale Cove residents have a dependable source of clean drinking water year-round. This investment in the Whale Cove Emergency Water Supply project is key to supporting the unique needs of northern communities, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for Nunavummiut.”

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to provide a new water filtration system for Whale Cove. The new unit will significantly increase the quality of water for residents and will avoid boil water advisories until the current water treatment plant is upgraded. Ensuring a high quality drinking water for residents of Whale Cove, and for Nunavummiut across the territory, is an important goal of the Department of Community and Government Services.”

The Honorable Joe Savikataaq, Minister of Community and Government Services

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $375,000 to this project through the Small Communities Fund, and the Government of Nunavut will contribute $125,000.
The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
$21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
$2 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. This funding also includes the $400-million Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.

Associated Links

Contacts

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
brook.simpson@canada.ca

Kris Mullaly
Policy Analyst/Communication Officer
Government of Nunavut
867- 975-5342
kmullaly@gov.nu.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca
Web: Infrastructure Canada

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