New disaster mitigation infrastructure to better protect residents of Saint John

Pictured from left to right: Councillor David Hickey, Commissioner of Utilities and Infrastructure, Brent McGovern, Mayor Donna Reardon, Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie, Councillor Gerry Lowe, Member of Parliament for Saint John - Rothesay, Wayne Long.

On behalf of the Government of Canada 

Today, Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay, and John MacKenzie, Deputy Mayor of the City of Saint John, announced more than $30 million in joint funding for climate-resilient infrastructure projects in Saint John.

Funding will support raising the Courtenay Bay Causeway to prevent flooding during storm surges and rising sea levels as well as the construction of a new pumping station to allow for drainage of the forebay during high-tide conditions. These projects will help protect critical infrastructure and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

In addition, this investment will increase the flood resiliency of critical wastewater infrastructure across the city. The project includes rehabilitating and raising the berms to protect the Lancaster Wastewater Treatment Facility from flooding, replacing and raising the ultraviolet disinfection system at the Millidgeville Wastewater Treatment Facility and incorporating additional flood protection measures in the Lower Cove sewer system. The upgrades to these facilities are vital to mitigating the risk of damage from flooding, as well as reducing risk of sewer backup and the release of untreated wastewater into the environment.

By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.

Quotes

“With increasing extreme weather events, ensuring our communities have reliable disaster mitigation infrastructure is key to safeguarding the livelihoods of all residents. Today’s announcement will ensure that residents in Saint John are better protected from the impacts of climate change and its effects for years to come.”

Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

“The impacts of climate change are felt by communities across Canada and Saint John, as a coastal community, is no exception. Making smart investments in critical infrastructure will help strengthen our resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change and major weather events. Thanks to funding from Infrastructure Canada, the City can now proceed with key disaster mitigation projects at the Courtenay Bay Causeway, two wastewater treatment facilities and the Lower Cove sewer system.”

John MacKenzie, Deputy Mayor of the City of Saint John

Quick facts

· The federal government is contributing more than $12 million to these projects. The City of Saint John is investing more than $18 million.

· The Government of Canada’s funding for this project comes from the Disaster and Mitigation Adaptation Fund (DMAF).

· Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous groups and/or environmental assessments.

· On November 24th, 2022, the Government of Canada released Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy. It commits $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help address both immediate and future climate risks to Canadian communities.

· As outlined in the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan (GOCAAP), the federal plan to implement the National Adaptation Strategy’s goals, objectives and proposed targets, the Government of Canada will invest up to an additional $489.1 million through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) to help communities increase their resiliency against the effects of climate change.

· Launched in 2018 with an initial investment of $2 billion, the DMAF helps communities build infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and droughts. Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $1.375 billion in the DMAF.

Associated links

Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund 

Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan  

Federal infrastructure investments in New Brunswick