The Manitoba government is extending the deadline for the city to complete Winnipeg’s most expensive infrastructure project by two years.
The provincial government will grant the city’s request to move the deadline for the three-phase, nearly $3.1-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade to 2032 from 2030.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes said the extension will include multiple interim deadlines that help ensure important milestones are promptly met.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
The Manitoba government will grant the City of Winnipeg’s request to move the deadline for it to complete the nearly $3.1-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade from 2030 to 2032.
“We’ve ensured that the city has completed a comprehensive, updated plan. We want to get this project done. We … would have liked to have this project done yesterday,” said Moyes.
The province refused to extend the deadline in the past. In 2024, it stated sticking with the 2030 target was necessary, due to the urgent need to reduce water pollution.
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The upgrade is designed to greatly expand sewage capacity and significantly reduce algae-promoting nutrients that flow out of the plant into the Red River and end up in Lake Winnipeg. Two years ago, the province held firm on its deadline, stating that pollution helped fuel toxic algal blooms that harm water and threaten tourism, fisheries and the livelihood of First Nations that depend on the lake.
On Friday, Moyes said that deadline no longer appears realistic.
“ We want to get this project done. We … would have liked to have this project done yesterday.”
“Ultimately … we want to make sure that we’re protecting our waterways. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen as much progress as we would like, so we’re looking to push to ensure that the city can meet (the adjusted) milestones,” he said.
The list of interim project deadlines calls for the first “headworks facilities” phase of work to be substantially completed by Aug. 31 of this year, and for the second “biosolids facilities” phase to reach that point by Dec. 31, 2030.
The new timeline calls for the third and final “nutrient-removal facilities” phase to reach that mark by Dec. 31, 2032.
“This is ultimately about safeguarding the health of Lake Winnipeg and our waterways. And so, we’re ensuring that the City of Winnipeg has a plan to come into compliance … with (its pollution limits),” said Moyes.
If timelines are not met, the city will face “appropriate action” through environmental protection orders or other means, the minister said.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files
Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes
He confirmed the province has committed to fund one-third of the cost of Phase 2, but stopped short of promising to fund the same portion of Phase 3.
“We’re committed to seeing this project through but those talks are ongoing and we’ll continue to work with all partners,” said Moyes.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham welcomed the deadline change.
“I always thought that was a very tight timeline, so I appreciate that (it) has been extended,” said Gillingham.
However, the mayor said getting federal and provincial funding to cover the third phase of the project is critical to completing the work.
“Even 2032 has a level of risk (to get the project built) if we don’t see the funding commitments … this year.”
“Our staff have been very clear that we have limited capacity at the north end plant and so we need to build … uninterrupted. To do that, we need funding confirmed,” said Gillingham.
Coun. Jeff Browaty, the finance chairman, agreed, stating the revised timeline is still somewhat aggressive.
“Even 2032 has a level of risk (to get the project built) if we don’t see the funding commitments … this year,” said Browaty (North Kildonan).
Coun. Ross Eadie, chairman of the water and waste committee, said the additional time to complete the complex megaproject is greatly needed.
“I’m relieved they’ve acknowledged our argument that it needs to be extended,” said Eadie (Mynarski).
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
The new solids handling facility at the North End wastewater treatment plant.
The councillor said work on the first phase of the project, and planning for the second, allowed the city to fine-tune its schedule, making it increasingly clear that the 2030 deadline would be missed.
“It needs two more years to complete everything,” said Eadie.
A request to interview a member of Winnipeg’s water and waste department was not granted Friday.
In a written statement, a spokesman said securing the $1.57 billion needed for the third and final phase of the project is critical to completing it on time without substantially raising water and sewer rates.
“Without funding from other levels of government, the burden of paying for this project would shift to ratepayers,” wrote David Driedger.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
The city’s upgrade to the treatment plant is designed to greatly expand sewage capacity and significantly reduce algae-promoting nutrients that flow out of the plant into the Red River and end up in Lake Winnipeg.
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
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Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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