News Release

ALMA (GNB) – A $350,000 wastewater treatment plant expansion was announced today in Alma under the Small Communities Fund.

“This expansion will allow the Village to increase capacity at its wastewater treatment plant to better meet the existing and future needs of the area,” said Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Bernard LeBlanc. “The municipality and the province are working in partnership with the federal government to support the sustainability of this community, tourism and jobs.”

LeBlanc attended the announcement for Environment and Local Government Minister Brian Kenny.

“The federal government understands that by building stronger communities and modernizing and developing our infrastructure, we are creating jobs and opportunities and building a better Canada for future generations,” said Rob Moore, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live.”

Moore spoke for Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Denis Lebel.

The expansion will address the plant’s current operational issues and increase the volume of wastewater it will be able to treat. Fundy National Park is a major user of the facility. The pending completion of the Fundy Parkway Trail in 2018 is expected to create a significant increase in demand in wastewater treatment due to more tourist traffic.

“Our community is an important tourist destination and the gateway to one of our province’s most treasured tourist regions,” said Alma Mayor Kirstin Shortt. “We’re pleased to work with both levels of government to ensure we continue to provide safe wastewater infrastructure and that we are well-positioned for the demands of future business developments and growth.”

Under the Small Communities Fund, the provincial government is partnering with the federal government to jointly invest about $85 million in infrastructure over the next 10 years. Each project also receives matched funding from the community for a total investment of more than $118 million.

A total of 39 projects in New Brunswick communities will receive funding for strategic infrastructure projects that contribute to both a cleaner environment and economic growth. This is the first round of investments under the fund.

The Small Communities Fund was announced last year as part of the federal government’s 10-year infrastructure plan for communities with a population of less than 100,000. The fund was created under the New Building Canada Plan 2014-2024.

Eligible categories include highways and major roads, public transit, disaster mitigation, connectivity and broadband, innovation, wastewater, green energy, drinking water, solid waste management, brownfield redevelopment, local and regional airports, short-line rail, short-sea shipping and northern infrastructure.

Fundy National Park offers a coastal wonderland for hiking, walking, canoeing, kayaking, camping and swimming. The completion of the Fundy Parkway Trail will open up previously unreachable areas of the Bay of Fundy coastline and provide visitors with more opportunities for outdoor activities along the 16 kilometre wilderness route.