Feds, province, Saskatoon combine for $100M-plus infrastructure boost

The federal government, the provincial government and the City of Saskatoon united Friday to announce more than $102 million in funding for 11 infrastructure projects.

Major projects include green infrastructure that will upgrade drinking water and sewer systems, sidewalk expansions and a new solar plant.

Three projects will be funded through the federal COVID-19 resilience fund, including a series of improvements to the Meewasin Valley Authority’s trail system along the South Saskatchewan River.

“This shows what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together,” Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said during the virtual announcement.

“This is a great day for Saskatoon at a time when we could really use some good news.”

Trails near Kinsmen Park, the downtown core, River Heights and a southwest chunk near the Holiday Park Golf Course will all be improved with the combination of funding.

Meewasin Valley Authority board chair Colin Tennent said traffic along the trail system has roughly doubled during the pandemic, and improvements will help keep the river valley active for years to come.

“Meewasin recorded almost two million visits in 2020,” he said. “Sections planned here have seen some of the highest increases in demand during the past year.”

To celebrate its 40th year since forming, Meewasin Valley Authority is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $23 million to make improvements from River Landing to Kinsmen Park.

Amy Wall with the authority said other improvements include grading trails, providing stairs and wheelchair accessibility in some sections and benches and garbage cans along the trail. Funding agreements require much of the work to be completed by the end of the year.

Clark said the new large-scale solar plant will be located on a section of land called Parcel M north of the Gordie Howe Bridge and south of 11th Street.

“There has been a great amount of work done to get these projects cued up,” Clark said. “This is huge opportunity for us.”

Renewable power could be sent back to the grid, in addition to allowing the city to research and develop new ways to use solar for its operations.

“We wanted to encourage immediate and innovative investments in public infrastructure to help address the health risks and support our economy while making public facilities more accessible, energy efficient and cost effective,” said Jim Carr, the Government of Canada’s special representative for the prairies.

A section of funding will also see a new roof installed at the Sutherland Curling Rink, upgrades at the Western Development Museum and gas recapture efforts happening at the landfill.

Wells drilled at the landfill last fall have helped capture methane gases stored in decomposing garbage to power 1,200 homes a year and remove emissions equivalent to 10,000 vehicles from city streets, according to the city.

Ottawa is investing more than $41.1 million in these 11 projects via the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Some projects will require consultations with Indigenous groups. Conditions on all consultation requirements must be met to acquire funding.

The province is kicking in more than $34.3 million and the city is providing $25.8 million as part of the funding arrangement.