Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, alongside Vernon Saddleback, Chief of Samson Cree Nation, took part in a sod-turning ceremony in Samson Cree Nation to mark the start of construction to upgrade the community’s wastewater facility.
The facility will be upgraded to include a new pumping station for wastewater collection and treatment and is Samson’s largest federally-funded infrastructure project to date.
The Government of Canada is supporting the project with a $32.5 million investment. This includes funding for construction, project management and First Nation administration. This project is expected to be completed in the winter of 2020.
“We are very excited about this wastewater project as it will have positive effects on our Nation’s environment,” said Chief Saddleback. “Indigenous Services Canada’s financial commitment to the project and having Minister Philpott here at our sod-turning ceremony shows the commitment ISC has in maintaining their treaty relations with First Nations.”
The Samson Cree Nation is located approximately 90 kilometres south of Edmonton.