The shovels aren’t in the ground yet but the future looks good for a lot more residents of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory when it comes to drinking water.
Saturday afternoon at the Mohawk Community Centre on York Road the federal Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan announced $14.5 million in funding to pay for Phase 2 of a multi-year project to bring treated water to all 700 homes on the Territory.
He was representing the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
The money will extend a watermain down York Road to Shannonville. It will also pay for a water tower for storage.
Phase 2 will hook up another 146 homes and businesses to clean water.
Minister O’Regan said his liberal government intended to make good on promises to bring potable water to all First Nations over the next few years. “No Canadian should be without good drinking water. We intend to work together with the communities and help them get what they need.”
Chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte R. Don Maracle. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte R. Don Maracle said droughts and floods had become more common in recent years and that residents on the Territory had been under a boil water advisory for far too long.
The Chief praised the government for stepping up on the water issue. In 2016 a $27 million water treatment plant was built on the Territory and last year there was an 800 metre watermain extension.
The federal government has said it has plans to invest $30 million when all is said and done to bring clean drinking water to the residents of the Tyendinaga Territory with future watermain projects still in the works.
The over 100 people in attendance at the announcement heard some other welcome news as well. Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio announced a federal government investment of $30,000 for renovations making Christ Church, Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel more accessible for the disabled.
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio (right) with Minister Seamus O’Regan. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
