Renfrew–Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault gathered various political leaders from the Ottawa Valley at the Pembroke Water Treatment Plant Tuesday morning to announce major funding from the province to maintain a clean water supply:
The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
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Pembroke – $28,733,256 for the Quarry Road Reservoir Expansion Project
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Township of Whitewater Region – $4,032,212 for upgrades to the Cobden Water Treatment Plant
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Town of Renfrew – $890,600 for reconstruction and upgrades at the Renfrew Water Treatment Plant
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Bonnechere Valley Township – $5,033,286 for municipal service upgrades and rural rehabilitation
Denault stressed the importance of the grants for existing water supply infrastructure, noting that as the province prepares for growth, it will need to ensure that clean water remains plentiful:
Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais, along with a select few members of council, were on hand to accept the funding, which he says is critical at a time when new housing developments already underway will benefit from the upgrades:
Gervais applauded representatives from the Township of Laurentian Valley and the Province of Ontario for working in partnership with the City of Pembroke to secure this much-needed funding. LV Mayor Steve Bennett also acknowledged Denault and the province for the funding, saying the timing is right as the region continues to grow.
Also in attendance to receive the funding were Renfrew Mayor Tom Sidney, Warden Jennifer Murphy, former Warden Peter Emon, and a handful of other local delegates, all of whom were present for the announcement.
(Written By: Richard Evans)