Premier Scott Moe, Mayor Bob Himbeault and MLA David Marit partook in an announcement at Assiniboia鈥檚 Public Works Shop on the morning of Sept. 10.
The financed project at First Avenue East is part of the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP), which has delivered $150 million in funding for infrastructure work in Saskatchewan鈥檚 municipalities.
MEEP 2020 is a vital element of the provincial government鈥檚 two-year $7 billion infrastructure subsidy intended to counter the effects of COVID-19 upon Saskatchewan鈥檚 economy.
Funds obtained from MEEP will be used to refurbish Assiniboia鈥檚 sewers and help manage water issues, defining the end goals of the First Avenue East Underground Rehabilitation Project. Also, cash from MEEP will assist in paying for repaving developments and support other regenerative ventures in town. 聽聽
Additionally, Assiniboia will also receive $144,601 as part of the Safe Restart Canada Plan.
Earlier, Government Relations Minister Lori Carr announced on Sept. 9 that Saskatchewan鈥檚 percentage of the federal government鈥檚 Safe Restart Canada Plan for municipal governments will amount to approximately $70.32 million 鈥� these funds will be distributed to all of Saskatchewan鈥檚 compatible municipalities, including Assiniboia.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good day to be in Assiniboia,鈥� Premier Moe said as took the podium over from MLA David Marit at the Public Works Shop. 鈥淗arvest as we know is in full swing.鈥�
鈥淐OVID-19 is most certainly a large challenge for our generation,鈥� Moe said as he briefly touched on the effects of the pandemic on Saskatchewan before continuing.
鈥淭here are better days ahead for our province,鈥� Moe promised during his speech. 鈥淭he fundamentals of our economy have not changed. We have determination in Saskatchewan. We have the work ethic. Saskatchewan will continue to grow. The province will continue to advance.鈥�
Previously, funds from MEEP were only used once before in Saskatchewan鈥檚 history as Premier Moe noted. However, the premier believed the timing was right to use federal funds to rebuild vital infrastructure in this province as this country and the world continue to recover from the pandemic.
鈥淚 think of Stephen Harper, when he invested in the Building Canada Fund.鈥�
Moe believed a bright future was at hand for Saskatchewan, particularly when examining the province鈥檚 success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淲e continue to have low case numbers,鈥� Moe said. 鈥淭he number of infections are low.鈥�
The premier also spoke on the province鈥檚 job growth 鈥� Saskatchewan鈥檚 job numbers have rebounded in recent months. Also, the economy has remained steady during the pandemic. 鈥淲e have retained our triple AAA rating from Moody's,鈥� Moe verified. 聽聽聽聽聽聽
鈥淢oody鈥檚 has affirmed Saskatchewan鈥檚 triple-A credit rating despite the significant fiscal and economic challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said in a release on September 10.聽鈥淲ith this affirmation, Saskatchewan continues to have the second-highest credit rating among Canadian provinces when all three major rating agencies are considered.鈥�
鈥淔iscally, we are moving in the right direction and Saskatchewan鈥檚 economy continues to reopen and recover from the pandemic,鈥� the finance minister added. 鈥淥ur province has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, according to the most recent labour force survey and several other economic indicators, including growth in retail sales, wholesale trade and exports, show that our recovery is on track.鈥�
