Manitoba adding more funding to North End Sewer Treatment Plant

Premier Wab Kinew is gifting the city an early stocking stuffer for Winnipeg's most expensive project.

“This North End Water Pollution Control Centre, this North End Water Treatment Plant is a top priority,” said Kinew.

Winnipeg’s north sewage plant upgrades have ballooned in price over two decades. Different city hall estimates peg the project at either $2.3 billion or $3 billion currently.

All three levels of government have put in funding to date.

But the second of three phases is $482 million over budget, and Mayor Scott Gillingam has been calling for help to cover those costs.

On CTV Morning Live, Kinew announced an additional $30 million from his government this year for the phase two overruns. Kinew said that's a quarter of the province's share, suggesting this is a way to get Ottawa to boost its share.

"This is also sort of a step towards getting that longer-term big picture deal in place with the feds at the table." 

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he is grateful for the money, thanking the premier.

"If senior levels of government want to announce their contributions in tens of millions at a time, that's OK to me, it means we're moving in the right direction," said Gillingham.

But PC Municipal Relations Critic Trevor King said the $30 million falls well short of what is required to get this past the finish line.

"$30 million is a little drop in the bucket,” said King. “I'm sure the city is happy to hear that there is money coming, it's a little bit, but it's not enough."

The upgrades are needed to add sewer capacity, which is running out, and keep nutrients out of Lake Winnipeg.

The mayor said without more financial help from the other levels of government, sewer and water rates would be significantly impacted.

"Ratepayers of Winnipeg cannot fund this on their own," said Gillingham.

CTV News has reached out to the federal government for comment. A spokesperson said they are working on a response.