DESIGN PHASE UNDERWAY FOR NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION

April 16, 2019 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON –Today, Terry Sheehan, MP for Sault Ste. Marie, together with Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers, announced on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, that the design phase is underway on a new water treatment plant for Batchewana First Nation. Once completed, the new plant will provide clean water to nearly 200 community members.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is providing $320,000 for this phase of the project, which includes the design of a water treatment plant in Goulais Mission and decentralized water systems in Obadjiwan, as well as support for the First Nation to advance to the construction phase of the project.

The Government of Canada and First Nations are working in partnership to improve water infrastructure and support access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water in First Nations communities.

“Improving the safety and quality of water for Canadian families is a priority for the Government of Canada. Last year, Budget 2018 proposed to invest an additional $172.6 million over three years, starting in 2018-2019, to improve access to clean and safe drinking water on reserve and accelerate the pace of construction and renovation of affected water systems. Thank you to Chief Sayers who has been an incredible advocate for improving the reliability of clean drinking water for his communities.”

TERRY SHEEHAN,

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENTSault Ste. Marie

“The start of the design phase is an important milestone for the new water treatment plant in Batchewana First Nation. I commend Chief Sayers and Council for their leadership on this important initiative, which will provide clean water to nearly 200 members of their community.”

THE HONOURABLE SEAMUS O’REGAN, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

“Our members have been waiting for safe drinking water from the tap, and while the process took longer than we hoped, we are thrilled to see the design phase underway and are optimistic to see the completion of the project.”

CHIEF DEAN SAYERS

Batchewana First Nation

Quick Facts

• Batchewana First Nation is located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and has four settlements: Goulais Bay, Rankin, Obadjiwan and Whitefish Island.
• Once complete, the water treatment plant would service Goulais Mission. Obadjiwan would have a decentralized system, which cleans and filters water directly at the point of entry of each residence. The new plant would serve close to 200 community members.
• On December 17, 2018, the First Nation selected ARCADIS Canada Inc. as the project’s design consultant.

– 30 –