The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Barry Petten, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure:

Speaker, our government is committed to building stronger, safer and more resilient communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Over the last year, approximately $73 million has been invested by the provincial, federal and municipal governments in critical municipal infrastructure projects throughout the province, with the provincial share being 40 per cent. These investments are focused primarily on improving drinking water and wastewater systems that residents rely on every day.

Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to public health, environmental protection, and sustainable community growth. These projects will help municipalities maintain and improve vital services, while also meeting the needs of future generations.

Speaker, this work is supported through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, a cost-shared initiative that addresses existing infrastructure needs while helping communities prepare for future housing development. Through this agreement, our province has been allocated $123.1 million over 10 years from the Government of Canada to support improvements to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste systems.

These investments will preserve capacity, improve service reliability, and help municipalities plan for growth. They also align with our government’s commitment to a multi-year approach to roads, water, and sewer infrastructure, while prioritizing support for municipalities working to strengthen local water supplies.

We are helping communities across Newfoundland and Labrador grow and thrive for generations to come. These projects are about more than pipes and systems. They are about the people who depend on them, the communities they call home, and future we are building together, for all of us.

Thank you, Speaker.